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UNITED STATES OE AMERICA. 



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Pearls From the Bible. 



By MORITZ LOTH. 




Cincinnati, Ohio : 
THE MONITOR COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 

1894. 






COPYRIGHT, 1894. 

BY XI. LOTH, 



PREFACE. 



M 



ODEST as grass, so modest is the 
teaching of the Bible ; as bene- 
ficial as grass is to the animal kingdom, 
so beneficial is the teaching of the Bible 
to humanity. 

In that home and in that country where 
the refulgent light of the Bible shines, 
there peace, happiness, and contentment 
dwells. 

To spread that blissful light of the 
Bible, is the duty of every lover of man- 
kind. 

Let light supplant darkness, and igno- 
rance and oppression will disappear 
among the children of men, and good 
will and peace will everywhere rule 

supreme. 

The Author. 
Cincinnati, Ohio, 

December 29, 1894. 



PEARLS FROM THE BIBLE. 

By M. LOTH, 

Author of Our Prospects Reviewed, 
The Forgiving Kiss, etc., etc. 

And God said, "Let there be light;" and 
there was light. 

Only God, the Architect of the universe, 
could by His command create light and divide it 
into day and night in all its splendor and comfort 
to creation. All enjoy it, but only a few of man- 
kind give hearty thanks to Him for this ceaseless 
bliss. 

And God said, "Let us make man in our im- 
age, after our likeness, and let them have dominion 
over all, and blessed them. Be fruitful and multi- 
ply and replenish the earth and subdue it. " 

What greater nobility can man desire than 
the title to be born in the image of God and to be 
the lord over all creation between heaven and 
earth. All that God requires of man, is that by 
his acts he prove himself worthy to be born in 
God's image. And in order to be able to govern 
well what is under man^s dominion, it is man's 
bounden duty to govern himself well. If man suc- 
ceeds in that, he fills his mission acceptably to God 
and man. 

And the Lord God formed the rib which he 
had taken from the man into a woman, and brought 
her unto the man. 

Woman has the great distinction of being the 
after-thought of God, and also, while man was 



2 Pearls from the Bible. 

created out of dust, woman was created of the most 
precious material that exists, the rib of a man. 
This causes her refinement, which is the glory of 
God, her own glory, and the joy of man, if he 
sufficiently appreciates the presence of a woman. 

And the Lord God called unto Adam and 
said unto him, "Where art thou?" 

And he said, "I heard thy voice in the gar- 
den and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I 
hid myself." 

And God said, "Who told thee that thou art 
naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I 
commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat?" 

Aud the man said, "The woman whom thou 
gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and 
I did eat. " 

And so it is to this very day, whenever dis- 
tress overtakes a man he always trys to place the 
blame on his mother, sister or his wife: woman is 
to blame that this or that misfortune has happened. 
Adam has thus set a bad example, and this example 
must be disregarded by his descendants by common 
consent. It is certainly not chivalrous to put the 
blame of misfortune on women. 

And Noah, who was a husbandman, began his 
work, and he planted a vineyard. And he drank 
of the wine, and became drunken ; and he uncov- 
ered himself within his tent. 

This is the first record of drunkenness: and 
its evil effects should stand as a warning to all not 
to drink to excess. Bear this fact well in mind, 
that everything that exists may be used but should 
not be abused. If this rule prevailed with every 



Pearls from the Bible. 3 

individual, a great deal of misery would be pre- 
vented. 

Now the Lord had said unto Abraham, GJ-et thee 
out ot thy birthplace, and from thy lather's house, 
unto the land that I will show thee. 

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I 
will bless thee and make thy name great; and 
thou shalt be a blessing; 

And I will bless those that bless thee, and him 
that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall 
all families of the earth be blessed. 

These words are truly remarkable, they are 
wonderful, because they became verified by the 
fact that all the leading nations of the earth have 
been and are being blessed by the seed of Abraham; 
that produced Moses, Jesus, Mahomed, and the 
great prophets, David and his sod Solomon. These 
men wrote the Bible, the Book of Books, that 
stands at the head of literature, and that has done 
more than any other factor to civilize mankind 
and make men reasonable beings, leading them to 
a higher plane of perfection, nearer to God, and 
therefore God-like in action. To live and let live 
should be our constant maxim ; not to raise the 
hand to strike, but to lift the hand in benediction 
and for those blessed feelings deeply rooted in our 
disposition : glory to God ! 

And the Lord said, Because the cry against 
Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their 
sin is very grievous, destruction shall come upon 
them. 

And Abraham drew near and said, Wilt thou 



4 Pearls from the Bible. 

then destroy the righteous also with the wicked? 
Far be it from thee to do after this manner, to 
slay the righteous with the wicked ; far be this 
from thee; shall the Judge of all the earth not 
exercise justice? 

And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty 
righteous within the city, then I will spare ail 
the place for their sake. 

And Abraham pleaded before God that if there 
are forty-five, or thirty, or twenty, or ten righteous 
in Sodom and Gomorrah, not to destroy the cities 
for the sake of the ten. 

In this plea by Abraham before God, we can 
clearly discern the spirit of mercy and the vein 
of trade in that extraordinary degree which, to 
this very day, so eminently characterizes his 
numerous descendants. They are merciful to that 
extent, that they are called the " Sons of Mercy." 
As traders they lead the world to one great com- 
mercial union, through the banking facilities 
which, inaugurated by them, makes of the whole 
world one market. 

What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God 
hath heard the voice of the lad. Arise, lift up 
the lad, and lay hold on him with thy hand; for 
I will make of him a great nation. And God 
opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and 
she went, and filled the bottle with water, and 
gave the lad drink. 

There is a great lesson in this scene to millions 
of mothers, who, like Hagar, despair of bringing 
up tbeir children. Mothers, don't despair! God 
will hear your prayers for succor, and those very 



Pearls from the Bible. 5 

children that are such a burden will, with the 
help of God, and your patience and heroic efforts 
to bring them up in the path of righteousness, 
prove to be the greatest support and joy in your 
.declining days. Be hopeful, be cheerful, and re- 
member that every child that is born is born to 
become prominent and rich. (But, alas! many of 
them don't live long enough.) Therefore train 
them to endure hardships, cultivate into them 
good habits, crowned with a cheerful spirit. 
Cheerfulness is the sun of life; it prolongs it. 

And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and 
said, My father, here is the fire and the wood; but 
where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 

And Abraham said, God will provide himself 
the lamb for a burnt offering. 

And a ram came forth, and caught in a thicket 
by his horns; and Abraham went and took the 
ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in 
the stead of his son. 

This is the first lesson that man should make 
sacrifices for his religious beliefs, and this, 
Abraham's readiness to sacrifice even his beloved 
son Isaao for the glory of God, should stand as an 
example. It is not required of men to sacrifice 
their children, but what religion requires is to 
sacrifice passions on the altar of morality; sacri- 
fice time and money in bettering your own con- 
dition, and the conditions of your fellowmen of 
whatever race or creed they are; sacrifice your 
prejudice and ill-will that you harbor; weed out 
the degrading thought, "Am I my brother's 



6 Pearls from the Bible. 

keeper? '' Such thoughts are unworthy of a God- 
fearing and God-loving man. 

Be a prince of morality, a prince of peace, and 
thereby you will serve God and mankind well. 

And Abraham said unto his servant, the oldest 
of his house, who ruled over all he had, Unto my 
country and to my birthplace shalt thou go, and 
take a wife unto my son Isaac. 

The old servant objected to go on such an im- 
portant mission to select a wife for the son of his 
beloved master. But Abraham, although a mas- 
terful man. needed aid in the selection of a wife 
for his son and heir of b great cause, the cause of 
believing in the living God of the Universe, 
to worship Him from the innermost recesses of 
the heart, which is the greatest comfort to man. 
The old servant reluctantly started, well equipped 
to find the greatest treasure to a man, a good 
wife. Where did he go to find that wife? Not 
to the ball room. He went to the well, there to 
watch the girls how they looked and acted at their 
work. Rebekah came, handsome; her countenance 
beaming with virtue; her hands very willing to 
work, and her heart beating in kindness. " Drink, 
my lord; also for thy camels will I draw water." 

These words show that she was industrious 
and charitably inclined, two merits which are 
vitally essential in a woman in order to make a 
good wife. 

And the man bowed down his head, and pros- 
trated himself beiore the Lord in thankfulness 



Pearls from the Bible. 7 

that his groat mission was thus crowned with 
success. 

And they said, We will call the maiden, and in- 
quire her own decision. And they called Eebekah 
and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? 
And she said, I will go. 

And they blessed Eebekah, Our sister, be thou 
the mother of thousands of myriads, and let thy 
seed possess the gate of those who hate them. 

There are two great lessons in this record. First, 
that the daughter shall have the decision whether 
she wants to become the wife of the man, and 
the second lesson is the blessing. They did not 
wish that Eebekah should become a millionaire's 
wife, dress in the costliest garments, ride in a car- 
riage with wheels of silver, and tbe harness of the 
horses trimmed with gold. No such a wish es- 
caped their loving lips. They blessed her to be- 
come the mother of great men. And this is the 
right blessing to a bride. If a wife succeeds in 
bringing up exemplary children, her life is a 
triumphant success. Although she may be poor in 
purse and other holdings, her good children are 
her jewels; they are the hope of the State. 

And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, 
and Eebekah became his wife, and he loved her; 
and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 

Every husband who loves his wife truly is com- 
forted, and leads a happy life like Isaac did. He 
communed with God, and had no quarrel with 
his neighbors, although those neighbors filled up 



8 Pearls from the Bible. 

his wells, yet the loving husband loved peace. 
He dug new wells and prospered, because he loved 
his wife and lived in peace. Eeader, it would be 
well with you if you would do likewise. 

And Esau said to Jacob, Let me swallow down, 
I pray thee, some of that yonder red pottage, for 
I am faint. 

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy right of 
first born. 

And Esau said, Behold, I am going to die; and 
what profit then can the right of first born be to 
me. 

And Jacob said, Swear unto me this day; and 
he swore unto him, and sold his right of first born 
unto Jacob. 

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of 
lentiles, and he did eat and drink, and he rose up 
and went his way. Thus Esau despised the birth- 
right. 

This scene vividly depicts intemperance on the 
part of Esau, and thrift, coated with extreme 
greed, on the part of Jacob. Alas! these same 
scenes are enacted to this day among the children 
of men. In the same hot haste does the careless 
and intemperate man call out, Give me drink, give 
me this and give me that, whatever his unbridled 
passions call for. He pays for them eagerly, even 
if it takes the last penny he has to his name, and 
often pledges his honor as a debtor, which his bad 
habits prevents him from redeeming. Thus he 
lives poor and dishonored by his own acts. The 
thrifty man takes advantage of those who can 
not or will not govern their passions, and enriches 



Pearls from the Bible. 9 

himself and gains thereby the real comforts of 
life which he truly enjoys, because he has acquired 
the art of living properly. Reader, kindly note 
the words, the art of living properly, for this is 
the greatest art of all the arts, for it is the art that 
most concerns society. By all means practice 
temperance, be moderate in everything, and hus- 
band your earnings that you shall not come to 
want. 

And it came to pass, when Isaac was old, and 
his eyes were too dim to see, that he called Esau, 
his oldest son, and said unto him, My son, behold 
now, I am grown old, I know not the day of my 
death; now therefore take, I pray thee, thy 
weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to 
the field and hunt for me some venison ; and make 
me savoury food, such as I love, and bring it to 
me that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee 
before I die. 

This is a lesson that every wife and mother 
should remember forever. Here we have a man 
so old that his eyes became dim. He had a great 
work before him, to bless his oldest son, and in 
order to be able to do it in the right spirit he 
craved for savoury food, such as he likes to eat 
that his soul may bless him. 

This means if we want a man to be in a kindly 
spirit it is absolutely essential to give him some- 
thing good to eat. A hungry man does not feel 
like blessing. That wife and mother who gives 
her husband and children well-prepared food, in 
a kindly spirit, endears herself to them to such an 



10 Pearls from the Bible. 

extent that she is truly loved and truly revered. 
None will deny that it is a tedious work to cook 
and to serve everything daintily, but that labor is 
repaid a thousand fold by retaining the scepter 
over the affections of the husband and children. 
These in return toil to provide a home with the 
necessaries of life, grow up an examplary family, 
truly worthy of a wife and mother's pride. 

And Eebekah spoke unto Jacob, her son, saying, 
Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau, 
Bring me venison, and make me savoury food, 
that I may eat and bless thee before the Lord be- 
fore my death. 

And now, my son, obey my voice in that which 
I command thee. Go, I pray thee, to the flock 
and fetch me from there two good kids ; and I 
will make them savoury food for thy father such 
as he loveth. And thou shalt bring it to thy 
father, that he may eat for the sake that he may 
bless thee before his death. 

And Jacob said to Eebekah, Behold Esau, my 
brother, is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man; 
peradventure my father will feel me, and I shall 
then seem to him a deceiver; and I would bring 
upon me a curse, and not a blessing. 

And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy 
curse, my son; only obey my voice, and go and 
fetch them to me. 

And Jacob obeyed, brought the kids, and his 
mother made savoury food such as his father 
loved. And Eebekah took the goodly garments 
of her oldest son Esau and clothed therewith 
Jacob, her younger son. 

And the skins of the kids she put upon his 
hands, and upon the smooth part of his neck. 



Pearls from the Bible. 11 

And she gave the savoury food and the bread 
into the hands of Jacob, her son, and he came 
unto his father and said, My father; and he said, 
Here am I. Who art thou, my son ? 

And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau, thy 
first born. I have done as thou didst speak to 
me; arise, I pray thee, sit here and eat of my 
venison that thy soul may bless me. 

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that 
thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he 
said, Because the Lord thy God brought it before 
me. 

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray 
thee, my son, whether thou be truly my son Esau 
or not. 

And Jacob went near unto his father, and he 
felt him, and he said, The voice is the -voice of 
Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And 
he recognized him not, because his hands were 
hairy as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed 
him. 

And may G-od give thee of the dew of heaven, 
and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn 
and wine ; 

Nations shall serve thee, and people bow down 
to thee; be lord over thy brethren, and thy 
mother's sons shall bow down to thee ; cursed be 
they that curse thee, and blessed be they that 
bless thee. 

This unparalleled deception was clearly caused 
by the partiality of the mother between her two 
sons. Deceptions are always wicked, and are, as 
a rule, severely punished when discovered, which 
is only a question of time. Eebekah was severely 
punished for this deception ; for her beloved son 



12 Pearls from the Bible. 

Jacob had to flee from his parental home in order 
to save his life ; and all the hardships, tribula- 
tions, and misfortunes that befell Jacob could be 
distinctly traced to the partiality of his mother. 
Let this lesson serve to parents not to act par- 
tially toward their children. All alike have an 
equal claim on their parental love and impartial 
justice. 

It is not the fault of the child if one is hand- 
somer, wiser, or more tactful than the other. It 
is your child, and it is your duty to love and to 
promote its happiness. Do it gladly, and your 
work will be called blessed. 

And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou, then, 
but one blessing, my father? Bless me, also me, 
my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and 
wept. 

And Isaac, his father, answered and said unto 
him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of 
the earth, and (blessed) by the dew of heaven 
from above ; 

And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thy 
brother shalt thou serve ; and it shall come to 
pass that when thou shalt have the dominion, 
thou canst break his yoke from off thy neck. 

The blessings of Isaac to his sons Jacob and 
Esau were prophetic, and are being fulfilled from 
day to day. 

And Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be 
with me, and will keep me on this way which I 
am going, and will give me bread to eat and rai- 
ment to put on, 



Pearls from the Bible. 13 

And I come again in peace to my father's 
bouse : then shall the Lord be my God ; 

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, 
shall be God's house; and of all that thou wilt 
give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. 

How remarkable is this vow and prayer, " and 
will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, 
and I come again in peace to my father's house, 
* * * and of all that thou wilt give me I will 
surely give the tenth to the poor unto thee." 
Compare this to the Lord's Prayer, " Give us our 
dally bread, and lead us not into temptation," 
and "the poor ye have always with you." This 
shows that it is an inheritant thought from the 
patriarchal father of a noble race. No wonder 
that the Lord's Prayer electrifies millions of 
human beings who sincerely endeavor to become 
worthy servants of the Lord ! 

Thousands of sons who, like Jacob, left their 
parental roof and went their way into the wide 
world full of timidness and hopefulness, made 
similar vows that if God would bless their handi- 
work, how much good they would do to their 
relatives and the poor; but when they became 
rich, they forgot their vows, and gave only occa- 
sionally one dollar for the glory of God where 
they should, in gratitude, have given thousands 
of dollars. For this uncharitableness and ingrat- 
itude they are punished by being the slaves in- 
stead of masters over their possessions. Amidst 
the greatest abundance they suffer hunger. They 



14 Pearls from the Bible. 

shiver for the want of proper clothing j they 
shrink from society for fear of spending a cent. 
Such stingy people do not live — they only vege- 
tate; and when they die, and the minister stands 
before their coffin to say praiseworthy parting 
words, he would, if honest to his feelings and 
thoughts, say : " What good this departed brother 
has done in this world, whom and what institu- 
tion he has benefitted, G-od knows — I don't. Let 
us do our duty and bury him, in order that dust 
may return to dust ; and let his spirit receive the 
rewards of its doing." 

Reader, in order to remain the master over 
your wealth, and not become its slave, practice 
charity; give the tenth to the poor, in gratitude 
to God for the uncountable blessings that His 
loving grace has showered on you and yours. By 
such feelings and acts you will become a large- 
souled man, beloved by all, and mourned by all 
when the time comes to die, to leave this world 
for the celestial regions where the large-souled 
live in everlasting bliss. 

And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and 
they seemed unto him but a few days, through 
the love he had to her. 

Through the deception of his father-in-law, 
Laban, he had to serve another seven years for 
the hand of^ Rachel, and thereby demonstrated 
his sincere love, as also the inexperience of a 
spoiled child. But Jacob, as a husband and a 



Pearls from the Bible. 15 

father of a large family, woke up, as it were, 
from dreaming, in order to provide for bis own 
house, and made that deal, unparalleled for 
shrewdness, with the deceitful Laban, that all 
the speckled, spotted, and brown lambs and goats 
born should be his reward for tending the flock. 
This transaction made Jacob very wealthy, and 
clearly shows that a man, by becoming a husband 
and a father, becomes wiser and more enterpris- 
ing. Had Jacob remained single, .he would never 
have acquired the wisdom to tint the fleece of 
the lambs and the goats to be born spotted and 
speckled, because his material interest would not 
have demanded it. But being a married man, 
full of love for his wife and children, that made 
him wise and prudent, as we see that he divided 
his holdings into two camps, so that in case one 
should be destroyed the other would be saved. 

And Jacob sent and called Kachel and Leah 
to the field unto his flock, and said to them, And 
ye know well that with all my power I have 
served your father ; and your father hath de- 
ceived me and changed my wages ten times ; but 
G-od suffered him not to do me evil. 

As my wages, all the lambs and goats that were 
born ring-streaked, speckled, grizzled, are to be 
mine, and most of them were so born. Your 
father and your brothers are envious, and I heard 
a voice, the voice of God, advising me to return 
to the land of my birth. 

And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto 
him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for 
us in our father's house? 



16 Pearls from the Bible. 

And alas ! so it is to this day. When the 
daughter gets married, she is ready and very 
willing to gather up all the possessions of the 
parents and take them with her to her new home, 
the same as Eachel and Leah. Let us, gentle 
reader, hope and pray that the husband is worthy 
of so much love and devotion, stronger even than 
filial affection. 

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, 
and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who saidst 
unto me, Beturn unto thy country and to thy 
birthplace, and I will deal well with thee ; 

I am not worthy of all thy kindness and of all 
the truth which thou hast shown unto thy serv- 
ant ; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, 
and now I am become two bands. 

Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my 
brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, 
lest he will come and smite me, the mother with 
the children. 

This expression of gratitude to God for his 
great prosperity is truly beautiful; but it is 
marred by the fear that his brother, whom he 
had wronged, would smite him and his. We have 
it as we make it. Every act brings its own re- 
ward. Happily Esau was magnanimous, as we 
see by the following passage ; 

And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, 
and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they 
wept. 

It is a charming scene to see brethren forgive 
and forget their differences, and dwell in peace. 



Pearls prom the Bible. 17 

The magnanimity of Esau is commendable, and 
should serve as an example to all who are 
wronged directly or indirectly. Magnanimity 
ennobles our nature, and makes true nobility 
possible. 

And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he 
came from Padau-aram, and blessed him : Thy 
name i3 Jacob; thy name shall not be called any 
more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name ; be 
fruitful and multiply ; a nation and an assemblage 
of nations shall spring from thee, and kings shall 
come out of thy loins. 

The promise became verified. Israel became a 
nation, and shaped the destiny of nations. Israel's 
kings were great statesmen and mighty warriors; 
mighty with the sword, and still mightier with 
the pen. The Psalms of King David and the 
Proverbs of King Solomon can not be surpassed, 
and even to this day cheer the hearts and en- 
lighten the minds of millions of people. But the 
greatest king that emanated from the loins of 
Jacob is Jesus Christ ; his teachings and his 
loving example throbs and rules every heart of 
every good man, woman, and child throughout 
Christendom. They spend millions of dollars for 
education, honestly trying to emancipate man- 
kind from the curse of ignorance and its natural 
offspring, barbarism and cruel oppression. It is 
the spirit of Jesus that became entwined with 
their spirit, that inspires them to such glorious 
deeds. God be praised for that prevailing spirit; 



18 Pearls from the Bible. 

it is indeed glorious, and the glory belongs to 
God. 

And Jacob called the name of the place where 
Grod had spoken with him, Beth-el ; a name dear 
to all religious people. 

And Jacob came unto Isaac, his father; and 
the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty 
years when he departed this life ; and Esau and 
Jacob, his sons, buried him. 

This is the last and greatest honor that children 
can bestow on their parents : to bury them with 
mournful hearts and resolve to live in unison, and 
so conduct themselves in all the relations of life 
that they be an honor to the departed loved ones. 

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his 
children, and he made him a coat of many colors. 

And when his brothers saw that their father 
loved him more than all his brothers, they hated 
him, and could not speak, peaceably unto him. 

And Joseph dreamed a dream, that he and his 
brethren were binding sheaves; his sheaf arose 
and remained standing, and the sheaves of his 
brethren made obeisance to his sheaf. Also he 
dreamed that the sun and the moon and eleven 
stars made obeisance to him. 

Only a son of Jacob, a grandson of Isaac, and 
a great-grandson of Abraham could have dreamed 
as Joseph dreamed. Relating these dreams to his 
brothers aroused their envy and hate to such an 
extent that they sold him to the Ishmaelites for 
twenty pieces of silver ; and they brought Joseph 
into Egypt and sold him unto Potiphar, an officer 
of Pharaoh's guards. 



Pearls from the Bible. 1§ 

And Potipbar appointed Josepb as overseer 
over bis bouse. And Josepb was handsome in 
form and bandsome in appearance, and bis mas- 
ter's wife east her eyes upon Josepb and tried to 
lead him astray. 

Josepb refused, saying, How can I do this 
great evil and sin against God? 

And she caught him by his garment, saying, 
Lie with me. And be left bis garment in her 
hand and fled, and ran out into the street. 

There is no wrath so intense, and no bate so 
deep, as that of a licentious woman whose entic- 
ing charms are rejected by a man ; and such 
must have been the feelings and humiliation of 
Potiphar's wife. She henceforth wished to de- 
stroy him who had caused her this mortification, 
and by ber falsehood she succeeded in having 
Josepb sent to prison. But God's ways are won- 
derful. Josepb stepped from the prison to the 
throne. This was bis reward for bis exemplary 
virtue, which should be accepted by all who aim 
to lead a virtuous life, and retain their conscience 
unimpaired and their manly independence. 

But the Lord was with Joseph, and caused him 
to find kindness, and gave him -favour in the eyes 
of the superintendent of the prison. 

And the superintendent of the prison commit- 
ted into Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were 
in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, 
was done through him. 

The superintendent of the prison looked not 
after the least that was under his hand, because 



20 Pearls prom the Bible. 

the Lord was with him; and that which he did, 
the Lord made to prosper. 

And it came to pass after these things, that the 
butler of the king of Egypt and the baker com- 
mitted an offence against their lord the king of 
Egypt. 

And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, 
against the chief of the butlers, and against the 
chief of the bakers. 

And he put them in ward in the house of the 
captain of the guards, into the prison, the place 
where Joseph was confined. 

And the captain of the guards charged Joseph 
with them, and he served them; and they con- 
tinued a season in ward. 

And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each 
his dream in one night, each in accordance with 
the interpretation of his dream, the butler and 
the baker of the king of Egypt, who were con- 
fined in the prison. 

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, 
and looked at them, and, behold, they were sad. 

And he asked the officers of Pharaoh that were 
with him in ward in his lord's house, saying, 
Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day? 

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a 
dream, and there is none to interpret it. And 
Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations 
belong to G-od? tell it to me, I pray you. 

The chief of the" butlers then told his dream to 
Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a 
vine was before me; 

And on the vine were three branches; and it 
was as though it budded, shot forth its blossoms, 
and on its clusters the grapes became ripe: 

And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I 
took the grapes, and pressed them out into Pha- 



Pearls from the Bible. 21 

raoh's cup, and I placed the cup into Pharaoh's 
hand. 

And Joseph said unto him, This is its interpre- 
tation : The three branches are three days ; 

Within yet three days will Pharaoh lift up thy 
head, and restore thee unto thy office: and thou 
shalt place Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the 
former manner when thou wast his butler. 

Therefore if thou thinkest on me when it shall 
be well with thee, then show kindness, I pray 
thee, unto me, aud make mention of me unto 
Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house; 

For indeed I was stolen away out of the land 
of the Hebrews; and here also have I not done 
the least that they should put me into the dungeon. 

And when the chief of the bakers saw that he 
had well interpreted, he said unto Joseph, I also 
(saw) in my dream, and, behold, I had three bas- 
kets with fine bread on my head: 

And in the uppermost basket there was of all 
manner of bakemeats, used as food for Pharaoh; 
and the birds did eat them out of the basket from 
my head. 

And Joseph answered and said, This is its inter- 
pretation: The three baskets are three days; 

Within yet three days will Pharaoh lift up thy 
head from off thee, and will hang thee on a tree ; 
and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 

And it came to pass on the third day, which 
was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast 
unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head 
of the chief of the butlers and the head of the 
chief of the bakers among his servants. 

And he restored the chief of the butlers unto 
his butlership ; and he placed the cup into Pha- 
raoh's hand; 



22 Pearls from the Bible. 

But the chief of the bakers he hanged, as 
Joseph had interpreted to them. 

Yet the chief of the butlers did not remember 
Joseph, and forgot him. 

And so it is to this day. We frequently render 
favors to our fellowmen when they are in distress; 
but when their circumstances improve, they for- 
get to reciprocate the kind acts of which they 
were the recipients. This was the case with the 
chief butler, who in his days of prosperity did 
not remember Joseph. 

And it came to pass at the end of two full years, 
that Pharaoh dreamed; and behold he stood by 
the river. 

And, behold, there came up out of the river 
seven cows, of good appearance and fat in flesh; 
and they fed in the meadow. 

And, behold, seven other cows came up after 
them out of the river, ill-favoured and lean in 
flesh; and they stood by the other cows upon the 
brink of the river. 

And the ill-favoured and lean-fleshed cows did 
eat up the seven well-favoured and fat cows. 
And Pharaoh awoke. 

And he slept and dreamed a second time: and, 
behold, seven ears of corn came up on one stalk, 
rank and good. 

And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with 
the east wind sprung up after them. 

And the seven thin ears swallowed up the seven 
rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, 
behold, it was a dream. 

And it came to pass in the morning that his 
spirit was troubled ; and he sent and called for all 



Pearls from the Bible. 23 

the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men 
thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but 
there was none that could interpret the same unto 
Pharaoh. 

Then spoke the chief of the butlers unto Pha- 
raoh, saying, My faults I must call to remembrance 
this day: 

Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put 
me in ward in the house of the captain of the 
guards, me and the chief of the bakers; 

And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and 
he; we dreamed each in accordance with the 
interpretation of his dream. 

And there was with us a Hebrew lad, a servant 
to the captain of the guards; and we told him, 
and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each ac- 
cording to his dream did he interpret. 

And it came to pass, just as he had interpreted 
to us, so it was; me ho restored unto my office, 
and him he hanged. 

Then Pharaoh sent and had Joseph called, and 
they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: 
and he shaved himself, and changed his garments, 
and came in unto Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed 
a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: 
and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst 
understand a dream to interpret it. 

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is 
not in me; God will give an answer for the peace 
of Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, 
behold, I stood upon the brink of the river; 

And, behold, there came up out of the river 
seven cows, fat in flesh and good in shape; and 
they fed in the meadow; 

And, behold, seven other cows came up after 



24 Pearls from the Bible. 

them, poor and very ill-shaped and lean in flesh; 
I never saw any like these in all the land of 
Egypt for ugliness; 

And the lean and the ill-favoured cows did eat 
up the first seven fat cows; 

And when they had eaten them up, it could 
not be known that they had eaten them; but 
their appearance was still as bad as at the begin- 
ning. And I awoke. 

And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven 
ears came up on one stalk, full and good; 

And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, blasted 
witli the east wind, sprung up after them; 

And the thin ears devoured the seven good 
ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but 
there was none that could tell it to me. 

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of 
Pharaoh is one, that which God is about to do, he 
hath told to Pharaoh. 

The seven good cows are seven years; and the 
seven good ears are seven years; the dream is one. 

And the seven thin and ill-favoured cows that 
came up after them are seven years; and the 
seven empty ears, blasted with the east wind, 
shall be seven years of famine. 

This is the thing which I have spoken unto 
Pharaoh : What God is about to do he hath shown 
unto Pharaoh. 

Behold, there are coming seven years of great 
plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 

And there shall arise seven years of famine 
after them, when all the plenty shall be forgotten 
in the laud of Egypt: and the famine shall con- 
sume the land; 

And the plenty shall not be known in the land 
"by reason of that famine following it; for it shall 
"be very grievous. 



Pearls from the Bible. 25 

And as it respecteth that the dream was doubled 
unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is 
firmly resolved on by God, and G-od hasteneth to 
bring it to pass. 

Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man, 
discreet and wise, and set him over the land of 
Egypt. 

Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint 
officers over the land, and take up the fifth part 
(of the produce) of the land of Egypt in the 
seven years of plenty. 

And let them gather up all the food of those 
good years that are coming, and lay up corn 
under the hand of Pharaoh, as food in the cities, 
and keep the same. 

And that food shall be for a store to the land 
against the seven years of famine which shall be 
in the land of Egypt; that the land be not cut off 
through the famine. 

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pha- 
raoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we 
find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit 
of God is? 

And Pharoah said unto Joseph, Inasmuch as 
God hath caused thee to know all this, there is 
none so discreet and wise as thou : 

Thou shalt be over my house, and according to 
thy word shall all my people be ruled ; only in 
regard to the throne will I be greater than thou. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set 
theoover all the land of Egypt. 

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, 
and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him 
in vestures of fine linen, and put a golden chain 
about his neck ; 

And he caused him to ride in the second char- 



26 Pearls from the Bible. 

iot which he had ; and they cried before him, 
Bend the knee : and he placed him (thus) over all 
the land of Egypt. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh; 
but without thee shall no man lift up his hand or 
his foot in all the land of Egypt. 

And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath- 
pa'ne-ach; and he gave him Assenath, the daugh- 
ter of Poti-phera', the priest of On, for wife. And 
Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 

And Joseph was thirty years old when he 
stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt ; and 
Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, 
and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 

And the earth brought forth in the seven years 
of plenty by handfuls. 

And he gathered up all the food of the seven 
years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid 
up the food in the cities: the food of the field of 
the city which was round about it laid he up in 
the same. 

And Joseph heaped up corn as the sand of the 
sea, very much ; until he left off numbering, for 
it was without number. 

And unto Joseph were born two sons before 
the years of famine came, whom Assenath, the 
daughter of Poti-phera', the priest of On, bore 
unto him. 

And Joseph called the name of the first-born 
Menasseh [Menasheh] : for God (said he) hath 
made me fOrget all my toil, and all my father's 
house. 

And the name of the second he called Ephraim 
[Ephrayim] ; for God (said he) hath caused me 
to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. 

And the seven years of plenty, that was in the 
land of Egypt, were ended. 



Pearls from the Bible. 27 

And the seven years of famine began to come, 
just as Joseph had said; and there was famine in 
all the countries, but in all the land of Egypt 
there was bread. 

And when all the land of Egypt also felt hunger, 
the people cried to Pharaoh for bread : and 
Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto 
Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 

And the famine was over all the face of the 
earth: and Joseph opened all the store-houses, 
wherein corn was, and sold unto the Egyptians; 
for the famine grew strong in the land of Egypt. 

And all the countries came into Egypt to buy 
corn of Joseph ; because the famine was sore in 
all the countries. 

We have here a glimpse of Joseph's masterful 
tact; before he appeared before Pharaoh, he 
shaved himself, and changed his garments in or- 
der to be at his best advantage. When inter- 
preting the dream, how deftly he recommended 
that a man discreet and wise be sot over the land 
of Egypt! Thereby he became the Eegent over 
Egypt. He acted with the same forethought that 
his father Jacob did when he contrived to have 
all the lambs and goats born speckled and spotted 
because his interest demanded it. 

Joseph has the great distinction of being the first 
man who made a corner in corn. He took from the 
Egyptians their money, their cattle, and their 
lands, and made a statute that the fifth part of 
the crops belong to Pharaoh, but in this act he 
overreached himself, and subsequently saw his 
great mistake, 



28 Pearls from the Bible. 

And when Jacob saw that there was corn in 
Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look 
at one another? 

And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is 
corn in Egypt; get you down thither, and buy for 
us provision from there, that we may live, and 
not die. 

And ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy 
corn in Egypt. 

But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not 
with his brothers ; for he said, Lest mischief be- 
fall him. 

And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among 
those that came; for the famine was in the land 
of Cana'an. 

And Joseph — he was the governor over the land, 
it was he that sold corn to all the people of the 
land; and Joseph's brothers came, and bowed 
themselves down before him with the face to the 
earth. 

And Joseph saw his brothers, and he. recognised 
them; but made himself strange unto them, and 
spoke roughly unto them; and he said unto them, 
Whence come ye ? And they said, From the land 
of Cana'an to buy food. 

And Joseph recognised his brothers, but they 
recognised not him. 

And Joseph remembered the dreams which 
he had dreamed concerning them, and he said 
unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of 
the land are ye come. 

And they said unto him, No, my lord, tby ser- 
vants are only come to buy food. 

We all are sons of one man ; we are true men ; 
thy servants have never been spies. 

And he said unto them, JSTo! but to see the 
nakedness of the land are ye come, 



Pearls from the Bible. 29 

And they said, We, thy servants, are twelve 
brothers, sons of one man in the land of Cana'an; 
and, behold, the youngest is this day with our 
father, and one is no more. 

Aud Joseph said unto them, It is as I have 
spoken unto you, saying, Ye are spies. 

Hereby shall ye be proved: By the life of 
Pharaoh, ye shall not go forth hence, except your 
youngest brother come hither. 

Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, 
and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words 
may be proved, whether the truth be with you; 
and if not, by the life of Pharaoh, ye are surely 
spies. 

And he put them together into ward three days. 

And Joseph said unto them on the third day, 
This do, and live; I fear God. 

If ye be true men, let one of your brothers re- 
main imprisoned in the house of your confine- 
ment; but ye, go, carry home what ye have 
bought for the want of your household. 

But your youngest brother bring unto me; so 
shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. 
And they did so. 

And they said one to another, Truly Ave are 
guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the 
anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we 
would not hear; therefore is this distress come 
upon us. 

And Reuben answered them, saying, Did I not 
say unto you, thus, Do not sin against the child; 
and ye would not hear? and behold, his blood also 
is now required. 

And they knew not that Joseph understood 
them; for he spoke unto them by an interpreter. 

And he turned himself away from them, and 
wept; and returned to them again, and spoke 



30 Pearls from the Bible. 

with them, and took from them Simeon, and 
bound him before their eyes. 

And Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with 
corn, and to restore every man's money into bis 
sack, and to give them provision for the way; and 
he did unto them thus. 

And the}' loaded their asses with their corn, and 
departed thence. 

And one of them opened his sack to give his ass 
provender in the inn : when he espied his money: 
for, behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. 

And he said unto his brothers. My money hath 
been restored ; and, lo, it is even in my sack : and 
their heart failed them, and they were afraid, say- 
ing one to another, What is this that God hath 
done unto us? 

And they came unto Jacob their father unto 
the land of Cana'an, and they him all that had 
befallen them ; saying, 

The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly 
to us, and took us as though we were espying the 
country. 

And we said unto him, We are true men; we 
have never been spies : 

We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; the 
one is no more, and the youngest is this day with 
our father in the land ol Cana'an. 

And the man, the lord of the country, said unto 
us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men : 
leave one of your brothers here with me, and (the 
food for) the want of your household take ye and 
be gone; 

And bring your youngest brother unto me; 
then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that 
ye are true men; your brother I will give up to 
you, and in the land ye shall be allowed to traffic. 

Aud it came to pass as they were emptying 



Pearls from the Bible. 31 

their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of 
money was in his sack: and when they saw the 
bundles of their money, they and their father., 
they were afraid. 

And Jacob, their father, said unto them, Me ye 
have bereaved of my children: Joseph is gone, 
and Simeon is gone, and JBenjamin ye will take 
away; all these things are against me. 

And Beiiben said unto his father, thus, Two of 
my sons shalt thou slay, if I bring him not to 
thee; deliver him into my hand, and I will bring 
him back to thee. 

And he said, My son shall not go down with 
you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left : 
and if mischief befall him by the way in which ye 
go, then will ye bring down my gray hairs with 
sorrow to the grave. 

In this chapter we have the picture of a family 
in distress, and beset by hunger. There is great 
wisdom in the words of Jacob, when he said to 
his sons : " Why do ye look at one another? Be- 
hold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt; 
get you down thither, and buy for us provisions 
from there, that we may live and not die." What 
a great lesson do these words convey ! When 
misfortune befalls a man or a family, let them not 
fold their hands or wring them in despair, and 
look at one another ; but instead of that let th m 
reason quietly, brace up and go to work to bet: er 
their condition. Be active, be hopeful, use your 
senses to their fullest capacity in the hour of 
peril, don't despair. 

In this chapter we have it demonstrated that 



32 Pearls from the Bible. 

Beuben was the most foolish of Jacob's sons, by 
his saying, " Two of my sons shalt thou slay, if I 
bring him not to thee ; deliver him into my hands 
and I will bring him back to thee." 

Every man of sense knows that the grand- 
children are more beloved by their grandparents 
than their own children, and this is so by Divine 
ruling, that in case the parents are neglectful of 
the welfare of their children, the grandparents 
may come to their aid. This explains also why 
so many fathers and mothers when making their 
last will always draft same to provide for their 
grandchildren in preference to their own chil- 
dren. 

And the famine was sore in the land. 

And it came to pass, when they had completely 
eaten up the provisions which they had brought 
out of Egypt, that their father said unto them. 
Go again, buy us a little food. 

And Judah said unto him, thus, The man did 
solemnly protest unto us. saying, Ye shall not see 
my face, except your brother be with you. 

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will 
go down and buy thee food ; 

But if thou sendest him not, we will not go 
down ; for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see 
my face, except your brother be with you. 

And Israel said, AYherefbre have ye dealt so ill 
with me, as to tell the man that ye have yet an- 
other brother? 

And they said, The man inquired particularly 
concerning us and our kindred, saying, Is your 
father yet alive? have ye another brother ? and 
we told him according to the tenor of these words ; 



Pearls from the Bible. 33 

could we possibly know that he would say, Bring 
down your brother? 

And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the 
lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we 
may live, and not die, both we, and thou, as also 
our little ones. 

I will be a surety for him ; from my hand shalt 
thou require him : if I bring him not unto thee, 
and set him before thee, then shall I have sinned 
against thee all the days. 

For, if we had not lingered, surely we had now 
returned the second time. 

And their father Israel said unto them, If it 
must be so now, do this : take of the best products 
of the land in your vessels, and carry down to the 
man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, 
spices, and lotus, pistachio-nuts and almonds ; 

And twofold money take in your hand ; and 
the money that was put back in the mouth or 
your sacks, you must carry back in your hand ; 
peradventure it was an oversight ; 

Also your brother take along, and arise, go 
again unto the man. 

And may Grod the Almighty give you mercy 
before the man, that he may send away to you 
your other brother, and Benjamin. And I, if I 
am to be bereaved, let me be bereaved. 

And the men took that present; and twofold 
money they took in their hand, as also Benjamin ; 
and they rose up, and went down to Egypt, and 
stood before Joseph. 

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he 
said to the superintendent of his house, Bring 
these men into the house, and slay, and make 
ready; for with me shall these men dine at noon. 

And the man did as Joseph had said ; and the 
man brought the men into Joseph's house. 



34: Pearls from the Bible. 

And the men were afraid, because they were 
broughtinto Joseph'shouse: andthey said, Because 
of the money that came back in our sacks at the 
first time are we brought in ; that he may seek 
occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us 
for bond-men, together with our asses. 

And they came near to the man who was ap- 
pointed over Joseph's house, and they spoke with 
him at the door of the house, 

And they said, Pardon, my lord, we came down 
at the first time to buy food : 

And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, 
that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's 
money was in the mouth of his sack, our money 
in its full weight; and we have brought it back 
in our hand. 

And other money have we brought down in our 
hand to buy food; we know not who hath put 
our money in our sacks. 

And he said, Peace be to you, fear not; your 
G-od, and the God of your father, hath given you 
a treasure in your sacks; your money hath come 
to me. And he brought Simeon out unto them. 

And the man brought the men into Joseph's 
house; and he gave them water, and they washed 
their feet, and he gave provender to their asses. 

And they made ready the present before Joseph 
came home at noon; ior they had heard that they 
should eat bread there. 

And when Joseph came home, they brought 
hirn the present which was in their hand into the 
house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. 

And he asked them after their welfare, and 
said, Is your old father well, of whom ye spoke? 
is he yet alive? 

And they answered, Thy servant, our father, 
is in good health, he is yet alive. And they 



Pearls from the Bible. 35 

bowed down their heads, and prostrated them- 
selves. 

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother 
Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your 
youngest brother, of whom ye spoke unto me? 
And lie said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. 

And Joseph hastened away, for his affection to- 
ward his brother became enkindled, and he sought 
to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and 
wept there. 

And he washed his face, and came out, and re- 
frained himself, and said, Set on the bread. 

And they set on for him by himself, and for 
them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, who 
did eat with him, by themselves; because the 
Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews; 
for this is an abomination unto the Egyptian. 

And they sat before him, the first born accord- 
ing to his prior birth, and the youngest according 
to his youth; and the men marvelled one at the 
other. 

And he sent portions unto them from before 
him ; but Benjamin's portion exceeded the portions 
of al 1 of them fivefold. And they drank, and were 
merry with him. 

In this chapter we see the forethought and 
resignation of a loving father in these words: 

"And their father Israel said unto them, If it 
must be so now, do this : take of the best products 
of the land in your vessels, and carry down to the 
man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, 
spices, and lotus, pistachio-nuts, and almonds. 

"And may God the Almighty give you mercy 
before the man, that he may send away to you 



36 Pearls from the Bible. 

your other brother, and Benjamin ; and I, if I am 
to be bereaved, let me be bereaved." 

What the aged patriarch aimed at was to win 
the good will of the man his sons were to meet, 
and to bow submissively to the will of God. We 
behold also in this chapter, that the most manly 
of Jacob's sons was Judah. There is a genuine 
ring; in the following remarks: 

"And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the 
lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we 
may live, and not die, both we, and thou, as also 
our little ones. 

" I will be a surety for him ; from my hand shalt 
thou require him ; if I bring him not unto thee, 
and set him before thee, then shall I have sinned 
against thee all the days." 

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, 
Pardon, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, 
speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thy 
anj;er burn against thy servant; for thou art even 
as Pharaoh. 

My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a 
father, or a brother? 

And we said unto my lord, We have an old 
father, and a little child born in his old age; and 
his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his 
mother, and his father loveth him. 

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him 
down unto me, that I may set my eye upon him. 

And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave 
his father; for if he should leave his father, he 
would die. 

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your 



Pearls from the Bible. S7 

youngest brother come down with you, ye shall 
not see my face any more. 

And it came to pass, when we came up unto thy 
servant my father, that we told him the words of 
my lord. 

And our father said, GJ-o back, and buy us a 
little food. 

And we said, We cannot go down: if our 
youngest brother be with us, then will we go 
down; for we cannot see the man's face, except 
our youngest brother be with us. 

And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye 
know that my wife bore me two sons; 

And the one went out from me, and I said, 
Surely he hath been torn in pieces; and I have 
not seen him up to this time. 

And if ye take this one also from me, and mis- 
chief befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs 
with sorrow to the grave. 

And now, when I come to thy servant my 
father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his 
life is bound up in the lad's life ; 

It will come to pass, that when he seeth that 
the lad is not with us, he will die: and thy serv- 
ants would thus bring down the gray hairs of thy 
servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 

For thy servant became surety for the lad unto 
my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, 
then shall I have sinned against my father all the 
days. 

Now therefore. I pray thee, let thy servant 
abide instead of the lad as bond-man to my lord ; 
and let the lad go up with his brothers. 

For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad 
be not with me? I should perhaps be compelled 
to witness the evil which would come on my 
father. 



38 Pearls from the Bible. 

Joseph tested his brothers to see if they would 
sacrifice their brother Benjamin like they did 
him, and was gratified to learn that that lion- 
hearted brother, Judah, was ready to become a 
slave rather than to have Benjamin sacrified. 

Then could Joseph not refrain himself before all 
those that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every 
man to go out from me. And there remained no 
man with him, while Joseph made himself known 
unto his brothers. 

And he raised his voice in weeping ; and the 
Egyptians heard it, and the house of Pharaoh 
heard it. 

And Joseph said unto his brothers, I am Joseph ; 
doth my father yet live? And his brothers could 
not answer him; for they were terrified at his 
presence. 

And Joseph said unto his brothers, Come near 
to me, I pray you; and they came near; and he 
said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold 
into Egypt. 

But now be not grieved, nor be angry with 
yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for in order 
to preserve life did God send me before you. 

For these two years hath the famine been al- 
ready in the land: and there are yet five years, 
in which there will be neither ploughing nor 
harvesting. 

And God hath thus sent me before you to pre- 
pare for you a permanence on the earth, and to 
save your lives by a great deliverance. 

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but 
God; and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, 
and a lord for all his house, and a ruler through- 
out all the land of Egypt. 



Pearls from the Bible. 39 

Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto 
him, Thus hath said thy son Joseph, God hath 
made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, 
tarry not. 

And thou shalt dwell in the land of (xoshen, and 
thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy chil- 
dren, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, 
and thy herds, and all that is thine. 

And I will maintain thee there; for there are 
yet five years of lamine; lest thou, and thy house- 
hold, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. 

And, behold, your own eyes sec, and the eyes 
of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that 
speaketh unto you. 

And ye shall tell my father of all my honour in 
Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall 
hasten and bring down my father hither. 

And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, 
and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 

And he kissed all his brothers, and wept upon 
them ; and after that his brothers spoke Avitk 
him. 

And the report thereof was heard in Pharaoh's 
house, saying, Joseph's brothers are come ; and it 
was pleasing in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the 
eyes of his servants. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy 
brothers, This do ye: load your beasts, and go, 
get you unto the land of Cana'an; 

And take your father and your households, and 
come unto me; and I will give you the best of 
the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the 
land. 

And thou art commanded, This do ye, take 
unto yourselves out of the land of Egypt wagons 
for your little ones, and for your wives, and take 
up your father, and come. 



40 Pearls from the Bible. 

And do ye feel no concern on account of your 
household goods ; for the best of all the land of 
Egypt is yours. 

And the children of Israel did so; and Joseph 
gave them wagons, according to the command of 
Pharaoh ; and he gave them provision for the 
way. 

To all of them he gave to each changes of 
raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred 
pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. , 

And to his father he sent after this manner: 
Ten asses laden with the best things of Egypt, 
and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and 
other food for his father, for the journey. 

And he accompanied his brothers on the way, 
and they departed : and he said unto them, Do 
not fall out by the way. 

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into 
the land of Cana'an, unto Jacob their father. 

And they told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive; 
and that he is governor over all the land of Eg} T pt. 
But his heart remained cold, for he believed them 
not. 

But when they told him all the words of Joseph, 
which he had said unto them; and when he saw 
the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him : 
the spirit of Jacob their father revived. 

And Israel said, Enough ; Joseph my son is yet 
alive : I will go and see him before I die. 

There is no scene either in ancient or modern 
literature so pathetic as the scene above recorded. 
The great lesson it teaches is predestination, as 
Joseph well said : "And G-od hath sent me before 
you to prepare for you a permanence on the 
earth, and to saveyour lives by agreat deliverance." 



Pearls from the Bible. 41 

Incidents often occur in a man's career that are 
looked upon as the greatest misfortunes at the 
time, but which turn out in the future as having 
been the most fortunate that could have happened. 

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went 
up to meet Israel his father to Goshen; and when 
he obtained sight of him, he fell on his neck, and 
wept on his neck a good while. 

And Israel said unto Joseph, Let me die now, 
since I have seen thy face, that thou are yet alive. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, thus, Thy 
father and thy brothers are come unto thee; the 
land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the 
land let thy father and brothers dwell ; let them 
dwell in the land of Groshen. 

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and 
placed him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed 
Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art 
thou? 

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the 
years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and 
thirty years; few and evil have been the days of 
the years of my life, and have not attained unto 
the days of the years of the life of my fathers in 
the days of their pilgrimage. 

And Joseph assigned places of residence for his 
father and his brothers in the land of Ra'messes, as 
Pharaoh commanded, and supplied them with 
bread in proportion to their families. 

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seven- 
teen years : and the days of Jacob, the years of 
his life, were one hundred forty and seven years. 

And when the time of Israel drew near that he 
was to die, he sent to call his son Joseph, and 



42 Pearls from the Bible. 

said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy 
eyes, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, 
and deal with me in kindness and truth; bury 
me not, I pray thee, in Egypt. 

But when I shall be with my fathers, thou 
shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in 
their burying place. And he said, I will do as 
thou hast said. 

And he said, Swear unto me ; and he swore 
unto him; and Israel bowed himself upon the 
head of the bed. 

And Joseph went up to bury his father, and 
there went up with him all the servants of Pha- 
raoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of 
the land of Egypt. 

And all the house of Joseph, and his brothers 
and his father's hou>e. 

And there went up with him both chariots and 
horsemen, and the encampment was very great. 

And his sons carried him into the land of 
Cana'an, and buried him in the cave of the field 
of Ma ch pel ah. 

And Joseph said unto his brothers, I shall die; 
but G-od will surely visit you, and bring you up 
out of this land unto the land which he hath 
swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 

And Joseph caused the children of Israel to 
swear, saying, G-od will surely visit you, and then 
;Jiall ye carry up my bones from here. 

So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten 
years old ; and they embalmed him, and he was 
put in a coffin in Egypt. 

Joseph ruled Egypt eighty-seven years. He 
was wise enough to seize an opportunity, but not 
wise enough to forego an advantage. He was too 
grasping, and the children of Israel had to suffer 



Pearls from the Bible. 43 

for the oppression that Joseph in his reign put on 
the people of Egypt. He took all their money, 
all their cattle, all their land, and enacted a statute 
that the fifth of the crops should belong to Pha- 
raoh. It is the same nowadays. Those who 
have the wisdom and masterful tact that Joseph 
had, overreach themselves in their excessive greed 
at the suffering of thousands of their fellowmen, 
which causes widespread discontent. 

Let all men, especially those who are at the top 
directing human affairs, deal kindly and in a 
liberal spirit with those who toil either in the 
field, in the shop, or in the counting room. Let 
the prevailing rule be, "To live and to let live." 
Why be so grasping? Coffins have no pockets. 
If parents leave an inheritance to their children 
of five hundred thousand dollars, the children 
lament that it is not a round million; and if the will 
is not made to suit them, they engage the most 
tactful and eloquent lawyers to declare that their 
parent was not sound in mind, or, in plain words, 
was a lunatic. They would, for the sake of money, 
have it officially declared that the parent was a 
lunatic. Shame! shame! Don't such children 
vividly demonstrate that they are dancing around 
the golden calf when, for the sake of money, they 
would taint themselves and their children with 
the stain of lunacy? 

Public opinion and the courts of the land should 
condemn such proceedings. Let no man of thrift 



44 Pearls from the Bible. 

and honor who was useful in his generation be 
declared a lunatic in order to break his testament. 
Joseph set the example of manly virtue, of the 
fear and love of God, of forgiveness and filial love 
to all the world for all times. Although his 
father was a shepherd, which was considered an 
abomination by the Egyptians, he nevertheless 
felt proud of his father, and bestowed honors 
on him. Compare with Joseph the sons and 
daughters of the present age who become wealthy 
while their parents remain poor. How shame- 
fully they treat them; how haughtily they annoy 
them, which hurts the feelings of strangers even 
that behold it. Stop such discourtesy, for it is 
disgraceful. 

And the children of Israel were fruitful, and 
increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed 
exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with 
them. 

Now there rose up a new king over Egypt, who 
knew not Joseph. 

And he said unto his people, Behold, the people 
of the children of Israel is more numerous and 
mightier than we: 

Come on, let us deal wisely with it; lest it 
multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there 
happen to be a war, it join also unto our enemies, 
and fight against us, and depart out of the land. 

And they thereupon did set over it taskmas- 
ters, to afflict it with their burdensome labours; 
and it built treasure cities, for Pharaoh, Pithom, 
and Ea'amses. 

But in the measure that they afflicted the same, 



Pearls from the Bible. 45 

so it multiplied, and so it spread itself out; and 
they felt abhorrence because of the children of 
Israel . 

And the Egyptians compelled the children of 
Israel to labour with rigour: 

And they made their lives bitter with hard 
labour, in mortar, and in bricks, and in all man- 
ner of labour in the field; besides all their other 
service, wherein they made them labour with 
rigour. 

And the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew 
midwives, of whom the name of the one was 
Shiphrah, and the name of the other Pu'ah ; 

And he said, When ye do the office of a mid- 
wife to the Hebrew women, ye shall have due re- 
gard upon the birth : if it be a son, then shall ye 
kill him; but if it be a daughter, then may she 
live. 

But the midwives feared God, and they did not 
as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but 
saved the men-children alive. 

And the king of Egypt called for the mid- 
wives, and he said unto them, Why have ye done 
this thing, and have saved the men-children alive? 

And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because 
the Hebrews women are not as the Egyptian 
women; for they are lively; ere the midwife 
cometh in unto them they are delivered. 

And God dealt well with the midwives; and 
the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 

And it came to pass, because the midwives 
feared God, that he made them houses. 

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, 
Every son that is born ye shall cast into the 
river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. 

And there went a man of the house of Levi, 
and took a daughter of Levi. 



46 Pearls from the Bible. 

And the woman conceived, and bore a son; and 
when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she 
hid him three months. 

And when she could no longer hide him, she 
took for him a box of bulrushes, and daubed it 
with slime and with pitch; and she put the child 
therein, and laid it amidst the flags by the brink 
of the river. 

And his sister placed herself afar off, to ascer- 
tain what would be done to bim. 

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to 
wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked 
along by the side of the river; and when she saw 
the box among the flags, she sent her maid and 
fetched it. 

And she opened it, and saw the child, and, be- 
hold, it was a weeping boy; and she had compas- 
sion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' 
children. 

Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, 
Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew 
women, that she may nurse for thee the child? 

And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, G-o ; and 
the maiden went and called the mother of the 
child. 

And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take 
away this child, and nurse him for me, and 1 will 
give thee thy wages; and the woman took the 
child, and nursed him. 

And the child grew up, and she brought him 
unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became to her 
as a son; and she called his name Moses [Mosheh]; 
and she said, Because out of the water have I 
drawn him. - 

Envy and fear cloud the judgment, and lead to 
unwise conclusions. This was the case with the 



Pearls from the Bible. 47 

new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. 
He did not rejoice that the land was blessed with 
having among its inhabitants a people who were 
thrifty, mighty, and increased abundantly, add- 
ing thereby to its wealth and strength; but, on 
the contrary, this small-souled king and dwarfed 
statesman adopted rigid measures for their de- 
pression in activity, and ultimate annihilation by 
his cruel mandate to drown every male child of 
the Hebrews. 

"Man proposes, but God disposes." The daugh- 
ter of the very Pharaoh is attracted by a box 
among the flags. She opens it, and sees the 
child, and, behold, it is a boy weeping. Her 
sympathy was aroused. She not only rescued 
the boy from an untimely death, but adopted 
him as a son, and called him Moses (Mosheh), for 
as she said, " Because out of the water have I 
drawn him." 

To this noble woman the world is indebted for 
our present civilization. She was the cause of 
Moses' instruction in all the arts that prevailed 
at that time in the land of Egypt, making of him 
the foremost scholar of that age, and the greatest 
man for all time in history. 

The whole earth is the pedestal on which his 
grand, manly figure stands. With his colossal 
hand he directs mankind to the path that leads 
to order and happiness. He shows them what 
they shall do, and what they shall not do. 

We owe to woman's love and to woman's an- 



48 Pearls from the Bible. 

gelic sympathy the blessing that the faithful obser- 
vance of the laws of Moses secures for every man 
and every woman. The laws of Moses are the 
roots from which our present civilization so 
gloriously thrives and spreads for the welfare 
of all. 

If there would not have been a Moses, there 
would not have been a Jesus, nor a Mahomed. 
Their teachings make millions of people wiser, bet- 
ter, and happier. Their influence is felt by every 
individual, for it consoles sorrow an assuages 
pain ; it brings gladness to eyes which fail with 
wakefulness and tears. But nowhere are the laws of 
Moses, his ethics, and the lessons of the Prophets, of 
Jesus, and Mahomed, so manifest as at the bar, in 
the senate, and in the school of philosophy. There 
the power of these elect spirits is really felt, and 
fully appreciated and promulgated. 

Daughter of Pharaoh, princess of Egypt, saviour 
of the life of Moses, and his devoted benefactor: 
No monument has been erected to thee, in honor 
of thy noble deeds and great service to mankind. 
Therefore, the author of these lines chisels with 
his pen a monument to thee. 

On a high pedestal thy figure in exquisite per- 
fection stands, strong, yet graceful and command- 
ing; thy bosom full, heaving with kindness under 
the folding garments that adorn thee richly. Thy 
neck is queenly; thy face beaming with loveli- 
ness ; thy lips gracious as they part in sympa- 
thetic words for the weeping Hebrew boy, calling 



Pearls frOxM the Bible. 49 

him Moses (Mosheh), " Because out of the waters 
have I drawn him." 

May those whose nandiwork has been 
blessed with wealth, erect to thy memory a monu- 
ment of the choicest marble, chiseled by the 
greatest sculptor whose designs are truly artistic, 
and their execution masterful. 

Let this great work of art, the monument of 
the princess of Egypt, the saviour of the life of 
Moses, be placed in a public park, and let those 
who honor her memory plant flowers before her 
monument; tend them tenderly, and may those 
flowers bloom and spring up before her feet in 
heaven. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, G-o in unto Pha- 
raoh ; for I have hardened his heart, and the heart 
of his servants, in order that I might display these 
my signs in the midst of them: 

And in order that thou mayest tell in the ears 
of thy son, and of thy son's son, the wonders 
which I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs 
which I have shown among them; and ye shall 
know how that I am the Lord. 

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, 
and said unto him, Thus hath said the Eternal. 
the God of the Hebrews, How long yet wilt thou 
refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people 
go, that they may serve me. 

For, if thou refusest to let my people go, behold, 
I will bring to-morrow locusts into thy boundary. 

And they shall cover the face of the earth, so 
that one shall not be able to see the earth; and 
they shall eat the residue of that which escaped, 
which hath been left unto you from the hail, and 



50 Pearls from the Bible. 

they shall eat off every tree which groweth for 
you out of the field: 

And thy houses, and the houses of all thyserv- 
ants, and the houses of all the Egyptians shall be 
full of them; such as neither thy fathers, nor thy 
fathers' fathers have seen, since the day of their 
being upon the earth, until this day; and he 
turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 

And the servants of Pharaoh said unto him, 
How long shall this man be unto us for a snare? 
let the men go, that they may serve the Lord 
their G-od : knowest thou not yet that Egypt is 
destroyed? 

And Moses was brought back with Aaron unto 
Pharaoh ; and he said unto them, Gro ye, serve the 
Lord your God; who all are they that shall go? 

And Moses said, With our young and with our 
old will we go; with our sons and with our daugh- 
ters, with our flocks and with our herds will we 
go ; for we are to hold a feast unto the Lord. 

And he said unto them, So be the Lord with 
you, as I will let you go, together with your little 
ones : look, surely your intentions are evil. 

Not so; go now ye men, and serve the Lord, 
for this you desire: and they were driven out 
from Pharaoh's presence. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thy 
hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, and 
they shall come up over the land of Egypt, and 
eat every herb of the earth, all that the hail hath 
left. 

And Moses stretched forth his staff over the 
land of Egypt, and the Lord urged an east wind 
over the land all that day, and all the night; 
when it was morning, the east wind bore along 
the locusts. 

And the locusts went up over all the land of 



Pearls from the Bible. 51 

Egypt, and rested in all the boundaries of Egypt; 
in very large masses; before them there were no 
such locusts as they, and after them there will 
not be any such. 

And they covered the face of the whole earth, 
so that the earth was darkened; and they ate 
every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the 
trees which the hail had left : and there was not 
left any green thing on the trees, or on the herbs 
of the field, throughout all the land of Egypt. 

Then made Pharaoh haste to call for Moses and 
Aaron ; and he said, I have sinned against the 
Lord your God, and against you. 

And now forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this 
once, and entreat the Lord your God, that he 
may take away from me only this death. 

And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated 
the Lord. 

And the Lord turned a very strong west wind, 
which bore away the locusts, and cast them into 
the Red Sea; there was not left one locust in all 
the boundary of Egypt. 

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that 
he did not let the children of Israel go. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thy 
hand toward heaven, and there shall be darkness 
over the land of Egypt, and it shall be a dark- 
ness of the night. 

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward 
heaven ; and there was a thick darkness in all the 
land of Egypt three days : 

They saw not one another, neither did they rise, 
any one from his place, for three days; but for 
all the children of Israel there was light in their 
dwellings. 

And Pharaoh called for Moses^and said, Go ye, 
serve the Lord ; only your flocks and your herds 



52 Pearls from the Bible. 

shall remain behind : also your little ones may go 
with you. 

And Moses said, Even thou also must give into 
our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we 
may sacrifice (them) unto the Eternal, our God. 

And also our cattle must go with us ; there 
shall not bo left behind a single hoof, for thereof 
must we take to serve the Lord our God ; and we 
cannot know with' what we must serve the Lord, 
until we come thither. 

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and 
he would not let them go. 

And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee away 
from me ; take heed to thyself, see my face no 
more ; for on the day thou seest my face thou 
shalt die. 

And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will 
not see thy face again any more. 

There is a great lesson in these words, "I have 
hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants." 
To have a hardened heart is to be cursed. A man 
with a hardened heart has his mind clouded; he 
is at war with himself, with his relatives, and 
with his fellowmen. 

Such a man is full of bitter complaints against 
his brothers, his sisters, his wife and children. 
They are all wrong, they are every one of them a 
hindrance to his prosperity and happiness, they 
are of no account; he alone is a man of merit, he 
is perfect, he is the pink of humanity, the salt of 
the earth ; for him alone the sun, the moon, and 
the stars have been created, and everything else 
that exists is to serve him. And in return he 



Pearls from the Bible. 53 

gives to God and man a hardened heart, that 
makes of him a despicable being. Be, therefore, 
on your guard against having a hardened heart, 
that your judgment may remain clear as a bell. 
Aim to have a heart that loves God and mankind, 
and your presence will be appreciated, and you 
will in return be loved and honored. That will 
sweeten your life, and prolong it pleasantly. 

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh let the peo- 
ple go, that God did not lead them the way 
through the land of the Philistines, because it 
was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the 
people repent when they see war, and return to 

Egypt, 

But God led the people about, by the way of 
the wilderness to the Red Sea: and the children 
of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. 

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; 
for he had caused the children of Israel to swear, 
saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall 
then carry up my bones away hence with you. 

And they took their journey from Succoth, and 
encamped in Etham, at the edge of the wilder- 
ness. 

And the L6rd went before them by day in a 
pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by 
night in a pillar of fire, to give light to them; 
that they might go by day and by night: 

He took not away the pillar of cloud by day, 
nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the 
people. 

There is nothing in history comparable to the 
exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. There were 
six hundred thousand men on foot, in addition to 



54: Pearls from the Bible. 

which there were children and women and a mixed 
multitude, also with them a very large number of, 
heads of cattle. It was not an organized body 
under military rules, but under the rules of ex- 
pediency. They were in a hurry to leave the 
country where they had to make bricks without 
straw under the. direction of hard task-masters; 
but notwithstanding their haste, they were faith- 
ful to the promise made by their ancestors to 
Joseph to take his bones with them. By keeping 
their promise they demonstrated their noble man- 
hood, and gave testimony of their enlightened 
civilization. 

A promise faithfully kept is a patent of nobility, 
respected and admired by all fair-minded men, in 
all ages and in all climes. 

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea: 
and the Lord drove back the sea with a strong 
east wind all that night, and made the sea dry 
land, and the waters were divided. 

And the children of Israel went into the midst 
of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters 
were a wall unto them, on their right hand, and 
on their left. 

And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after 
them, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his 
horsemen, to the midst of the sea. 

And it came to pass in the morning watch, that 
the Lord looked unto the camp of the Egyptians 
with the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and brought 
into confusion the camp of the Egyptians; 

And he took off the wheels of their chariots, and 
caused them to move onward with difficulty; and 



Pearls from the Bible. 55 

the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of 
Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the 
Egyptians. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thy 
hand over the sea, and the waters shall return 
over the Egyptians, over their chariots, and over 
their horsemen. 

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the 
sea, and the sea returned, when the morning ap- 
peared, to its strength ; while the Egyptians were 
fleeing against it; and the Lord overthrew the 
Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 

And the waters returned, and covered the 
chariots, and the horsemen, with all the host of 
Pharaoh that came after them into the sea: there 
remained of them not even one. 

But the children of Israel walked upon dry 
ground in the midst of the sea; and the waters 
were unto them a wall on their right hand, and 
on their ]ei'\. 

Thus the Lord saved Israel on that day out of 
the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the 
Egyptians dead upon the shore of the sea. 

And Israel saw that great power which the 
Lord had shown on the Egyptians; and the peo- 
ple feared the Lord, and they believed in the 
Lord, and in Moses his servant. 

When the Israelites dwelt in Egypt, the Egyp- 
tians oppressed them. When they left the country, 
the Egyptians pursued them in order to bring 
them back. This is the natural result of bad 
statesmanship. Spain exiled the Israelites, and 
that country from that time declined from a first- 
class power to a fifth -rate power among the nations. 



56 Pearls from the Bible. 

G-ladly would she now have the Israelites settled 
in their country, hut the children of Israel don't 
settle in an unhospitable country. Where there 
are no Israelites there is less enterprise, less cos- 
mopolitan feeling, less entertainments, and less 
practice of charity on a large scale. 

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this 
song unto the Lord, and thus did they say, I will 
sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glori- 
ously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown 
into the sea. 

My strength and song is the Lord, and he is 
become my salvation: he is my G-od, and I will 
declare his praise; the God of my father, and I 
will exalt him. 

The Eternal is the lord of war: the Eternal is 
his name. 

The chariots of Pharaoh and his host hath he 
hurled into the sea; and the chosen of his captains 
are sunk in the Bed Sea. 

The depths have covered them : they went 
down to the bottom as a stone. 

Thy right hand, Lord, is become glorious in 
power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in 
pieces the enemy. 

And in the greatness of thy excellency hast 
thou overthrown those that rose up against thee: 
thou didst send forth thy wrath, it consumed 
them as stubble. 

And with the breath of thy nostrils the waters 
were heaped up together, the floods stood upright 
as a wall; congealed were the depths in the heart 
of the sea. 

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, 
I will divide the spoil; my desire shall be satis- 



Pearls from the Bible. 5<? 

fied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand 
shall destroy them. 

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered 
them: they sunk as lead in mighty waters. 

Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the 
mighty? who is like unto thee, glorious in holi- 
ness, fearful in ])raises, doing wonders? 

Thou didst stretch out thy right hand, the earth 
swallowed them. 

Thou leadest forth in thy kindness the people 
thou hast redeemed; thou guidest it in; thy 
strength unto the habitation of thy holiness. 

What a glorious song Moses and the children of 
Israel sung on that memorable occasion. Note 
particularly these words : 

"Thou leadest forth in thy kindness the peo- 
ple thou hast redeemed ; thou guidest it in thy 
strength unto the habitation of thy holiness." 

Let some masterful composer set this to music 
for a thousand voices to sing in chorus. Large 
multitudes of people would then become divinely 
inspired, and feel the great dignity of being born 
in the image of God. Thereby they would be- 
come better men and women, truer and nobler in 
all the relations of life. 

And they took their journey from Elim, and all 
the congregation of the children of Israel came 
unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim 
and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second 
month after their departing out of the land of 
Egypt. 

And the whole congregation of the children of 



58 Pearls from the Bible. 

Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the 
wilderness: 

And the children of Israel said unto them, 
Would to G-od that we had died by the hand of 
the Lord in the land of E^ypt, when we sat by 
the flesh-pot, when we ate bread to the full; for 
ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to 
kill this whole assembly with hunger. 

Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will 
let rain for you bread from heaven; and the peo- 
ple shall go out and gather a certain portion every 
day, in order that I may prove it, whether it will 
walk in my law, or not. 

And it shall come to pass, on the sixth day, 
when they prepare what they shall have brought 
in, that it shall be twice as much as they shall 
gather daily. 

And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children 
of Israel, At evening, then shall ye know that it 
is the Lord who hath brought you out from the 
land of Egypt : 

And in the morning, then shall ye see the glory 
of the Lord; since he heareth your murmurings 
against the Lord ; and what are we, that ye should 
murmur against us? 

And Moses said, When the Lord giveth you in 
the evening flesh to eat, and bread in the morn- 
ing to the full; since the Lord heareth your mur- 
murings which ye murmur against him: — what 
are we then ? not against us are your murmur- 
ings, but against the Lord. 

And Moses said unto Aaron, Say unto all the 
congregation of the children of Israel, Come near 
before the Lord; for he hath heard your murmur- 
ings. 

And it came to pass, as Aaron was speaking 
unto the whole congregation of the children of 



Pearls from the Bible. 59 

Israel, that they turned round toward the wilder- 
ness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared 
in the cloud. 

And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, 

I have heard the murmurings of the children of 
Israel: speak nnto them, saying, Toward evening 
ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be 
filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am 
the Eternal your G-od. 

And it came to pass, that at evening the quails 
came up, and covered the camp; and in the morn- 
ing there was a layer of dew round about the 
camp. 

And when the layer of dew was gone up, be- 
hold, there w T as upon the face of the wilderness 
something fine in grains, small as the hoar-frost, 
on the ground. 

And when the children of Israel saw it, they 
said one to another, It is manna, for they knew 
not what it was; and Moses said unto them, This 
is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. 

This is the thing which the Lord hath com- 
manded, Gather of it every man according to his 
eating; an 'omer for every head, according to the 
number of your persons that every man hath in 
his tent, shall ye take. 

And the children of Israel did so ; and they 
gathered, some much, some little. 

And when they measured it with an 'omer, he 
that had gathered much had nothing over, and he 
that had gathered little had no lack: every man 
according to his eating, had they gathered. 

And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the 
morning. 

But they hearkened not unto Moses; but some 
men left of it until morning, and it bred worms, 
and stank ; and Moses was wroth with them, 



60 Pearls from the Bible. 

The real trouble with individuals, families, and 
communities begins when they have nothing to 
eat, and so it was with the Israelites. They mur- 
mured and longed for the flesh-pots of Egypt. 

God came to their rescue, and showered manna 
in the wilderness, and the children of Israel ate 
the manna for forty years, until they came to an 
inhabited land. Alas! thedaysforshoweringdown 
manna to feed the people are gone by, and the 
statute of God , " In the sweat of thy face shalt thou 
eat bread," is the law. No bread tastes so sweet 
as that which our industry earns. Work cheer- 
fully, and thank God that you are able to work 
and have work to perform. There is nothing so 
detrimental to health and good conduct as idle- 
ness. Don't be a drone. Be up and doing. This 
will benefit you and your fellowmen. If you are 
idle, you will sink into indifference and infidelity 
and become hopelessly undone. 

And Jithro, the father-in-law of Moses, offered 
a burnt-offering and sacrifices unto God; and 
Aaron came, with all the elders of Israel, to eat 
bread with the father-in-law of Moses, before God. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses 
sat to judge the people: and the people stood 
around Moses from the morning unto the evening. 

And the father-in-law of Moses saw all that he 
did to the people: and he said, What is this thing 
that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou 
thyself alone, and all the people standeth around 
thee from morning until evening? 

And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because 
the people cometh unto me to inquire of God. 



Pearls from the Bible. 61 

When they have a matter of dispute, they come 
unto me ; and I judge between one and the other, 
and I make them know the statutes of God, and 
his laws. 

And the father-in-law of Moses said unto him, 
The thing that thou doest is not good. 

Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and 
this people that is with thee; for the thing is too 
heavy for thee; thou wilt not be able to perform 
it by thyself alone. 

Now hearken unto my voice, I will give thee 
counsel, and may God be with thee, Be thou for 
the people a mediator with God, that thou mayest 
bring the causes unto God. 

And thou shalt explain to them the statutes 
and the laws; and thou shalt make them know 
the way wherein they must walk, and the work 
that they must do. 

Moreover, thou shalt select out of all the peo- 
ple able men, such as fear God, men of truth, 
hating (their own) gain; and place these over 
them, as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, 
rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 

And let them judge the people at all times; 
and it shall be, that every great matter they shall 
bring unto thee, but every small matter they 
shall judge themselves: so shall it be easier for 
thee, when they shall bear with thee. 

If thou wilt do this thing, and God commandeth 
it thee, then wilt thou be able to endure; and 
also the whole of this people will come to its 
place in peace. 

And Moses hearkened to the voice of his father- 
in-law, and did all that he had said. 

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and 
placed them as heads over the people, rulers of 



62 Pearls from the Bible. 

thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and 
rulers of tens. 

And they judged the people at all times; any 
difficult cause they brought unto Moses, but every 
small cause they judged themselves. 

And Moses dismissed his father-in-law; and he 
went his way unto his own land. 

Jithro was a great man. This is manifested by 
the good advice he gave to his son-in-law Moses, 
who accepted it, inaugurating the system of 
judiciary which happily prevails to this day. 
Unfortunately for the people, judges are elected 
or appointed who are not able, who do not fear 
God, who are not men of truth, and who do not 
hate their own gain, but are very much in loye 
with it, and therefore take bribes directly and 
indirectly. 

The fault of having such men as judges on the 
bench rests with the people who elect them, or 
with the appointing power, and those that con- 
firm such appointment. 

A corrupt judge can well be compared to a 
leper, and, like a leper, he should be banished in 
order not to corrupt social order and prosperity. 

Moses greatly profited by the advice of his 
father-in-law. It may not be amiss to state here 
that many of the sons-in-law of this enlightened 
age would greatly profit, and save themselves and 
those related to them from an ocean of troubles 
and heart-burning misery, if they would follow 
the advice of their father-in-law. 



Pearls from the Bible. 63 

As a rule, when a man has reached the age of 
being a father-in-law, he possesses a great deal of 
experience of the ways of the world, and in many 
instances he paid dearly for his experience. That 
experience so dearly purchased he lovingly offers 
to his inexperienced son-in-law, who spurns it 
with disdain, for he deems himself much wiser 
than his father-in-law. The whole world is too 
small to hold him, and as a rule such son-in-law is 
glad, within a short space of time, to have one 
room to live in, and he has hard work to pay 
the rent for even that. 

How different it would have been had he 
obeyed his father-in-law. It is never too late to 
mend; acknowledge your errors manfully. "An 
error gracefully acknowledged is a victory won.'' 

And God spoke all these words, saying, 

I am the Lord thy God, who have brought thee 
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of 
slavery. 

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven 
image, or any likeness of any thing that is in 
heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or 
that is in the water under the earth. 

Thou shalt not bow thyself down to them, nor 
serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous 
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
children, unto the third and fourth generation of 
them that hate me; 

And showing kindness unto the thousandth 
generation of them that love me, and keep my 
commandments. 



64 Pearls from the Bible. 

Thou Shalt not take the name of the Lord thy 
God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him 
guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 

Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. 

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. 

But the seventh day is the Sabbath in honour 
of the Lord thy God: on it thou shalt not do any 
work, neither thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, 
thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor tby 
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; 

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and 
the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and 
rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord 
blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

Honour thy father and thy mother; in order 
that thy days may be prolonged upon the land 
which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

Thou shalt not kill. 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

Thou shalt not steal. 

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 
neighbour. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor 
his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, 
nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's. 

And all the people perceived the thunders, and 
the lightnings, and the sound of the cornet, and 
the mount smoking; and when the people saw it, 
they removed trembling, and stood afar off. 

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, 
and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, 
lest we die. 

And Moses said unto the people. Fear not; for 
in order to prove you, did God come, and in order 
that his fear may be before your faces, that ye 
sin not. 



Pearls from the Bible. 65 

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew 
near unto the thick darkness where God was. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus shalt thou 
say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that 
from heaven I have spoken with you. 

Ye shall not make any thing with me: gods of 
silver, and gods of gold ye shall not make unto 
yourselves. 

An altar of earth shalt thou make unto me, 
and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, 
and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thy oxen: 
in every place where I shall permit my name to 
be mentioned, I will come unto thee, and I will 
bless thee. 

And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, 
tbou shalt not build it of hewn stone; for if thou 
lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 

Neither shalt thou go up by steps upon my 
altar, that thy nakedness be not laid open 
thereon. 



The ten commandments are the sublimest lines 
ever written. Their observance secures and pro- 
motes the welfare of every man, every woman, 
and every child. They are the charter for every 
individual, for every family, community, and all 
the nations on earth. Those that observe them 
most, prosper most, and live the longest as the 
brightest benefactors in their generations. 

Take the first commandment, "Thou shalt have 
no other gods before me." To believe in only 
one God, the God of the universe, who animates 
everything that exists : that belief is the be- 

3 



66 Pearls from the Bible. 

ginning of confidence; that belief is the healthful 
start to concentrated affections so essential to a 
contented career. 

Those people who do not believe in one God 
are at sea without a compass. They are in a con- 
tinual dread of being annihilated by an evil spirit, 
and that constant fear hinders their progress in 
intellectual and material development. 

The belief, the fear in and love of one God, the 
"Ellohim,'/ the "Jehovah," the Father of Man- 
kind, makes every man a freeman, a man without 
fear for mishaps. He feels that his Eedeemer 
liveth, and that no evil can happen to him as 
long as he is dutiful, and loves to do good for 
good's sake, which is God-like. 

The second commandment, " Eemember the 
Sabbath day to keep it holy." 

The Sabbath is indeed the pearl of days. It is 
the day not only for giving the body rest, but 
also for the cultivation of those noble feelings of 
endearment in the family. Wife and children re- 
joice that on the Sabbath the good husband and 
noble father will be with them the whole day. 
They go with them to the house of worship attired 
in their best clothes, and in the midst of the con- 
gregation they give thanks and adoration to God 
for the uncountable blessings he so bountifully 
showers upon them. Through this reunion, 
prayer, sermon, music, and song, their affections 
for each other become truly strengthened, and 
life is a thousand-fold happier for them. 



Pearls from the Bible. 67 

What would society be without a Sabbath? It 
would break down, and descend into the thistled 
valley of barbarism. 

"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy " 
should be impressed on the mind and heart of 
every child throughout the land, and the author- 
ities should gently but firmly execute the law of 
keeping the Sabbath. 

"Honor thy father and thy mother; in order 
that thy days may be prolonged upon the land 
which the Lord thy God giveth thee." 

This law is the pivot on which the welfare of 
society largely depends. A child that has been 
brought up to truly honor and revere its parents 
has the foundation laid for building up good citi- 
zenship. For it is natural that the child who 
truly loves and reveres its parents will also honor 
its uncles, aunts, and cousins ; and that affection 
can not stop there — it flows on like a living stream 
to the rest of mankind. 

A son or a daughter who don't care for the 
welfare of their parents, as a rule cares for no- 
body. They thereby make bad citizens and bad 
neighbors, from which the community is apt to 
suffer. It is therefore of supreme importance to 
the family, the community, and the State that 
the children be impressed with the holiness of 
honoring their parents. 

"Thou shalt not kill." There is nothing more 
terrible to a man than to be guilty of having 
killed a fellowman. It is to have his conscience 



68 Pearls from the Bible. 

crying aloud day and night against the great sin. 
So terrifying is that cry that death, an ignominious 
death, is preferable to that lamentation of con- 
science, and murderers frequently surrender 
themselves to the courts to be punished for a 
crime that cries before God and man. 

Don't kill; keep your anger or your revenge 
in check, and the prospects are that you vrill be 
much happier, and at least die peacefully. 

"Thou shalt not commit adultery. - ' Those 
who do not observe this commandment wilfully 
expose themselves to the most humiliating morti- 
fication, sorrow, and despair which undermine 
honor, health, and happiness, making life miser- 
able, and which often end with murderous vio- 
lence or a pauper's grave. 

Therefore don't commit adultery if you value 
your honor, health, and happiness. These crown 
life with the refulgent light of glorious peace 
within yourself, your home, and your community. 

"Thou shalt not steal." To be honest is man's 
glory. The very reputation of being honest 
broadly opens the avenues for employment and 
advancement, securing to the honest man an 
honorable living, enabling him to walk erect be- 
fore God and man. 

The reputation of being dishonest closes all the 
avenues of honorable usefulness, leaving only one 
avenue open, and that one is full of thorns, lacerat- 
ing the pedestrian on his way. Wherever he goes 
hehearstheroughwords,"Goon,goon." Filthy are 



Pearls from the Bible. 69 

hie ways, filthy are his companions, and the 
prison is often his home. Guard yourself against 
such a career by observing that important com- 
mandment, " Thou shalt not steal." 

" Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 
neighbor." How despicable is a false witness, a 
perjurer, or a liar. Alas! frequently an honest 
man is robbed of his good name and his hard- 
earned j^ossessions by such false witnesses. Even 
when proved a false witness he is often permitted 
to move in the best society instead of being sent 
to prison for the crime. Instead of being looked 
upon as a dishonored man, the contrary is often 
the case. Liars, especially under oath, can not 
be honorable men and women. Be truthful, and 
you will be esteemed as a noble character. 

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house." 
Trace all the misfortunes that befall man, woman, 
and children, and you will find that out of one 
hundred cases, ninety-nine have been caused by 
coveteousness. 

Wars that made human blood flow like a river 
can be directly traced to coveteousness. 

Coveteousness clouds the judgment ; right is 
superseded by might; everything is sacrificed to 
gratify the demon of coveteousness. For your 
own good, and the good of society, don't covet. 
Reason calmly, reason logically, and you will 
soon find that which you so covet to be unworthy 
of your efforts, and the great sacrifices you were 
ready and eagerly willing to make, Don't be 



70 Pearls from the Bible. 

coveteous; be content; it will do you and yours 
a world of good. 

We have briefly touched upon the great merits 
of the Ten Commandments. Each one of them 
should be made a text by the minister for one 
service at a time. What a latitude he there has 
to preach on. He can then impress his hearers 
with the grandeur of their ethics. Every one of 
the commandments is a gem, and if properly set 
would outshine all other ethics. It is a pity, a 
great pity, that the ministers so seldom expound 
the worth of the Ten Commandments. If they 
should, they would prevent many crimes by mak- 
ing the members of their congregation better men 
and better women, by holding fast to the great 
lessons of the Ten Commandments. & 

To expound them properly and impressively 
requires wisdom and eloquence of a high order. 

" If thou lend money to my people, to the poor 
by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a lender of 
money; thou shalt not lay upon him usury." 

This passage from the laws of Closes is especially 
applicable to those who take a large percentage 
on their loans, and thereby ruin the debtor. This 
is sinful, and, like all sins, they re-act on those who 
cause them. 

"And thou shalt take no bribe; for the bribe 
blindeth the clear-sighted, and perverteth the 
words of the righteous." 

Truer words "were never tittered or recorded, 



Pearls from the Bible. 71 

The bribe-taker is a full-fledged scoundrel. From 
such a rogue no justice can be expected. 

Don't countenance a bribe-taking judge ; for, 
under his ruling and example, life, honor, property, 
and freedom are jeopardized. 

" Thou shalt not withhold anything from thy 
neighbor, nor rob him; there shall not abide with 
thee the wages of him that is hired, through the 
night until morning." 

Only a Moses could in the dawn of civilization 
say so much in so few words. How applicable 
these words are to this very day, and how bene- 
ficial it would be to all if they were strictly car- 
ried into effect. 

" Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge 
against the children of thy people; but thou shalt 
love thy neighbor as thyself." 

What a text this is for a minister to j^reach on 
in those neighborhoods where there is a continual 
strife. Strife disgraces one, and depresses his 
spiritual and material progress. 

" Before the hoary head shalt thou rise up, and 
honor the face of the old man; and thou shalt be 
afraid of thy God; I am the Lord." 

This admonition is becoming very obsolete of 
late, and it is a sign of degradation. From the day 
that the young begin to disregard the aged, they 
decline in civilization and become barbarians, al- 
though they may be clothed in fineries, and have 
the appearance of ladies or gentlemen. Dis- 



72 Pearls from the Bible. 

respectful conduct towards the aged places civili- 
zation on equality with barbarism, and men and 
women on an equal footing with carnivorous 
animals. 

If there be among time a needy man, any one 
of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy 
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee; thou 
shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand 
from thy needy brother. 

But thou shalt open wide thy hand unto him, 
and thou shalt surely lend him sufficient for his 
need, which his want required). 

Thou shalt not pervert the cause of the stranger, 
or of the fatherless; and thou shalt not take in 
pledge the raiment ot a widow. 

A perfect and just weight shalt thou have; a 
perfect and just measure shalt thou have. 

If a bird's ne^t chance to bo before thee in the 
way, on any tree or on the ground, with young 
ones or with eggs, and the mother he sitting upon 
the young, or upon the egg^; thou shalt not lake 
the mother with the young. But thou shalt surely 
let the mother go. 

Thou shalt not plough with an ox and ass to- 
gether. 

Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he tbreshetb 
out the corn. 

Moses not only aimed by his laws to protect 
the widow, the orphan, and the poor from wrong 
and oppression, but he also extended his justice 
to the animals. Moses can justly be called the 
father of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 
to Animals. It took thousands of years before 



Pearls from the Bible. 73 

this humane act — to prevent cruelty to animals — 
was recognized at large, which clearly indicates 
that it takes a long time for the people to under- 
stand the laws of Moses and their sublime equity. 

And if a stranger sojourn with thee, in your 
land, ye shall not vex him. 

As one born in the land among you, shall be 
unto you the stranger that sojourneth with you, 
and thou shalt love him as thyself. 

It would be well for the whole country if this 
rule would prevail. There are many who look 
upon a stranger as an intruder, as one who is in- 
jurious to the land, while they themselves are the 
children from foreign parents. Every inhabitant, 
whether a native or a stranger, is a benefit to the 
land, for he or they in some form add to the pro- 
ducing power and to the development of wealth. 

It is for those that are at the head of affairs in 
the community to utilize such forces to the best 
advantage, and which as a rule is happily done. 
The value of property is thereby increased, and 
this also places the taxes on so many more in- 
dividuals. 

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in 
meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 

Just balances, just weights, a just epah, and a 
just lien shall ye have. 

Alas! these admonitions are obsolete with many 
traders. They are declared out of style. It 
therefore behooves the authorities to see to it that 



74 Pearls from the Bible. 

these ordinances be observed, especially so regard- 
ing the weight of loaves of bread, which deeply 
concerns the poor. It may not come amiss to ex- 
amine other food articles at the same time. 

Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth ; 
in the manner as he hath caused a bodily defect 
in a man, so shall it be done to him. 

And he that killeth a beast, shall make restitu- 
tion for it; and he that killeth a man shall be put 
to death. 

One manner of judicial laws shall ye have: the 
stranger shall be equal with one of your own 
country; for I am the Lord your God. 

These laws are stern in demand, but just in 
effect. They are unnecessary to those who live 
in the spirit, "Do unto others as you would be 
done by." Those who are willfully vicious should 
have punishment meted out as they deserve. 

The most remarkable of these statutes are the 
words: "One manner of judicial law shall ye 
have: the stranger shall be equal with one of your 
own country," or, in other words, be equal before 
the law. 

Although we have arrived at nearly two thou- 
sand years of the new era, there are nations that 
still discriminate before the law between their 
own people and strangers. It would be to their 
advantage if those nations would adopt the 
statutes of Moses — have one law for all — and 
thereby demonstrate that they are entitled to the 
claim they make of being a civilized nation. 



Pearls froM the Bible. 75 

Six years shalt thou sow thy field, and six years 
shalt tnou prune thy vineyard, and gather in the 
fruit thereof. 

But in the seventh year there shall be a Sab- 
bath of rest unto the land, a Sabbath (in honor 
of the Lord). 

It would be well for the agriculturist to observe 
this statute, and give the land the required rest 
to recuperate its fruitfulness. 

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and pro- 
claim freedom throughout the land unto all the 
inhabitants thereof; it shall be a jubilee (yobel) 
unto you; and ye shall return, every man, unto 
his possession, and ye shall return, every man, 
unto his family. 

The meaning of this statute is to give a quit- 
claim on all indebtedness, give freedom to those 
who were in slavery or in prison, give every one 
of the inhabitants a new start in their career* 
This statute would no doubt suit a great many 
people who do not like to toil or spin, and who 
love to live on the anticipated earnings for which 
they don't work. And still there are some points 
in it that could be engrafted into our laws. For 
instance, that every fifty years there should be a 
general settlement, an equalizing of matters. 
Such a measure would avoid extreme wealth on 
one side, and extreme poverty on the other. 

And the Lord passed by before him, and pro- 
claimed, The Lord is the immutable, Eternal 
Being, the omnipotent God, merciful and graciouSj 



76 Pearls from the Bible. 

long-suffering and abundant in beneficence and 
truth ; 

Keeping kindness unto the thousandth (genera- 
tion), forgiving iniquity and transgression and 
sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty; 
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the chil- 
dren, and upon the children's children, unto the 
third and unto the fourth generation. 

This is the true conception of God and God's 
ways. He keeps kindness unto the thousandth 
generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression 
and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty; 
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the chil- 
dren, unto the third and unto the fourth genera- 
tion. 

Let this stand as a warning to every man and 
to every woman throughout the land, to be care- 
ful of their acts, that their character and blood 
may not become tainted with evil and impurity 
which they would naturally transmit to their 
children, and who, under nature's laws, would 
suffer for their sins unto the third and fourth gen- 
eration. 

We heard once an eminent Christian minister 
scathingly denounce this doctrine of Moses, and 
giving it as his opinion as being too cruel for God 
to punish the children for their fathers' sins. Such 
preaching may be popular, but it is not beneficial 
to the people. It is far better to preach to them 
the truth. It is true that if the father or mother 
is scrofulous, their children are likely to be scro- 



Pearls from the Bible. 77 

fulous too. If the parents are tainted with insanity, 
the children are likely to be to some extent in- 
sane, and it is well that the masses of the people 
know these facts, and govern themselves accord- 
ingly. 

And the mixed multitude that was among 
them felt a lustful longing; and the children of 
Israel also wept again, and said, Who will give 
us flesh to eat? 

We remember the fish which we could eat in 
Egypt for naught; the cucumbers, and the melons, 
and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; 

But now our soul is faint; there is nothing at 
all, only to the manna are our eyes directed. 

What a time Moses must have had with such a 
discontented multitude, who were always grum- 
bling, always asking for the impossible. Without 
the help of G-od, even so great a man as Moses 
must have succumbed to such grievous trials. 
One grumbler in a household is sufficient to make 
the whole family unrcstful. Imagine, then, to 
have over six hundred thousand men, their wives 
and their children, and a mixed multitude of 
camp-followers to grumble. What a task for a 
leader to keep them in check ! 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto mo 
seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou 
knowest to be the elders of the people, and its 
officers; and take them unto the tabernacle of 
the congregation, and they shall stand there with 
thee. 



78 Pearls from the Bible. 

This is the first congress of a Republic created 
for the first time by the children of Israel, and so 
wisely copied by the United States, which has 
now stood the test successfully for over one hun- 
dred years, and it will always stand the test so 
long as the people of the Republic will worship 
God, and not kneel before mammon. Good con- 
duct and talent must be the standard for social 
distinction. From the day that wealth becomes 
the fixed standard, corruption and terrorism will 
set in, and so powerfully that it will undermine 
law and order. Law will cease to be of any value. 
A suitor will bo obliged to deposit a bribe before 
a trial could be got. The social fabric will fester 
with a mass of rottenness and crime. 

Let. therefore, every man and every woman 
who loves and fears God, who love their offspring, 
who love their country, uphold the purity of our 
civil and religious rights, the purity of the ballot, 
and see to it that patriotic men are elected to fill 
public trusts, especially to the judiciary. Every 
judge must be above suspicion, and constantly 
watched. 

Let wealth be appreciated, but not to the ex- 
tent to make it the pivot of social distinction. 
Good conduct, learning, and the promotion of 
general happiness should be the standard of social 
distinction. Good conduct is within the reach of 
all. Let us all encourage it and honor it for our 
own safety, and the glory of our Republic. 



Pearls prom the Bible. 79 

Congregation! one statute shall be for you and 
for the stranger that sojourneth, a statute forever 
in your generations. 

One law and one code shall be for you and for 
the stranger that sojourneth with you. 

Twice is this ordinance repeated in order to 
impress it more vividly upon the people, and by 
this act Moses demonstrated the greatness of his 
soul. 

And there remained two men in the camp, the 
name of the one was Eldad, and tne name of the 
other Medad; and the spirit rested upon them; 
and they were of those that were written down, 
but they had not gone out unto the tabernacle : 
and they prophesied in the camp. 

And there ran a young man, and told to Moses, 
and said, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in 
the camp. 

And Joshua' the son of Nun, the servant of 
Moses from his youth, answered and said, My 
lord Moses, forbid them. 

And Moses said unto him, Art thou zealous for 
my sake? And oh that one might render all the 
people of the Lord prophets, that the Lord would 
put his spirit upon them! 

Every great man wishes the people at 
large to be great in comprehension ; for he knows 
that a wise people can better be controlled from 
doing wrong, to love peace and live in peace, and 
for that reason Moses exclaimed, "And oh that 
one might render all the people of the Lord pro- 
phets, and the Lord put his spirit upon them." 



80 Pearls from the Bible. 

And when Bil'am saw that it was pleasing in 
the eyes of the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, 
as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but 
he set his face toward the wilderness. 

And Bil'am lifted up his eyes, and when he 
saw Israel encamped according to their tribes, there 
came upon him.the spirit of God. 

And he took up his parable, and said, Thus 
saith Bil'am the son of Be'or, and thus saith the 
man whose eyes are open; 

Thus saith be who heareth the sayings of Clod, 
who seeth the vision of the Almighty, falling 
down, with unvailed eyes: 

How beautiful are thy tents, Jacob, thy 
dwellings, O Israel ! 

As streams are they spread forth, as gardens by 
the river's side, as aloe-trees, which the Lord hath 
planted, as cedar-trees beside the waters. 

Water runneth out of His buckets, that his seed 
may be moistened by abundance of water; and 
exalted above Agag shall be his king, and raised 
on high shall be his kingdom. 

God, who brought him forth out of Egypt, is to 
him like the heights of the reem: he will devour 
nations, his oppressors, and their bones will he 
break, and pierce (them) through with his arrows. 

He coucheth, he lieth down as a lion and as a 
lioness: who shall make him rise up? They that 
bless thee be blessed, and they that curse thee be 
cursed. 

And the anger of Balak was kindled against 
Bil'am, and he struck his hands together; and 
Balak said unto Bil'am, To denounce my enemies 
did I call thee, and, behold, thou hast even blessed 
them these three times. 

And now flee thou to thy place: I thought to 



Pearls from the Bible. 81 

honour thee greatly; but lo, the Lord hath kept 
thee back from honour. 

And Bil'am said unto Balak, Did I not already 
speak to thy messengers, whom thousendest unto 
me, saying, 

It Balak would give me his house full of silver 
and gold, I could nut transgress the order of the 
Lord, to do good or evil out ot my own heart; 
what the Lord will speak, that must I speak? 

Balak commanded Bil'am to curse Israel, but 
Bil'am blessed and glorified Israel as he beheld 
them in their camp. It must have been a glori- 
ous sight. To bring them to that periection it 
required indeed God's grace and help, and the 
masterful leadership of Moses. 

And the Lord spoke unto Moses and to Aaron, 
saying unto them, 

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These 
are the beasts which ye may eat among all the 
beasts that are on the earth. 

Whatsoever divideth the hoof, and is cloven- 
footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, 
that may ye eat. 

But these shall ye not eat, of those that chew 
the cud, or of those^ that divide the hoof: The 
camel; because he cheweth the cud, but divideth 
not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 

And the cony; because he cheweth the cud, 
but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 

And the hare; because he cheweth the cud, but 
divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 

And the swine; because he divideth the hoof, 
and is cloven-footed, but he cheweth not the cud; 
he is unclean unto you. 



82 Pearls from the Bible. 

Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass 
shall ye not touch; they are unclean unto you. 

These may ye eat, of all that are in the waters: 
All that have fins and scales in the waters, in the 
seas, and in the rivers, them may ye eat. 

But all that have not fins and scales in the seas, 
and in the rivers, of whatever moveth in the 
waters, and of any living thing which is in the 
waters, shall be an abomination unto you : 

And an abomination shall they remain unto 
you; of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their car- 
casses shall ye have in abomination. 

Whatsoever hath not fins and scales in the 
waters, shall be an abomination unto you. 

And these shall ye have in abomination among 
the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an 
abomination : The eagle, and the ossifrage, and 
the osprey, 

And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 

Every raven after his kind ; 

And the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the 
cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind; 

And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the 
great owl, 

And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier- 
eagle, 

And the stork, the heron after his kind, and 
the lapwing, and the bat. 

All flying insects that walk upon four feet, 
shall be an abomination unto you. 

Yet these may ye eat, among all the flying in- 
sects that walk on four feet, which have spring- 
legs above their feet, to leap therewith upon the 
earth. 

These of them may ye eat : The locust after its 
kind, and the sol'am after its kind, and the char- 
gol after its kind, and the chagab after its kind. 



Pearls from the Bible. 83 

But all flying insects, which have four feet, 
shall be an abomination unto you; 

And through these shall ye be rendered un- 
clean; whosoever toucheth the carcass of them 
shall be unclean until the evening; 

And whosoever beareth aught of their carcass 
shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the 
evening. 

Every species of beast, which divideth the hoof 
and is not cloven-footed, nor cheweth the cud, is 
unclean unto you: every one that toucheth the 
same shall be unclean. 

And all that walk upon their paws, among all 
manner of beasts that walk on four feet, are un- 
clean unto you: whosoever toucheth their carcass 
shall be unclean until the evening. 

And he that beareth their carcass shall wash 
his clothes, and be unclean until the evening: un- 
clean shall they be unto you. 

And these shall be unclean unto you among the 
creeping things that creep upon the earth : The 
weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after its 
kind. 

And the hedgehog, and the chameleon, and the 
lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 

These shall be unclean to you among all that 
creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they 
are dead, shall be unclean until the evening. 

And every thing upon which any part of thenr^ 
when they are dead, doth fall, shall be unclean; 
whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or 
skin, or sack, every vessel wherewith any work 
can be done, must be put into water, and it shall 
be unclean until the evening, when it shall be 
clean. 

Aud ©very earthen vessel whereinto any part 



84 Pearls from the Bible. 

of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shail be un- 
clean ; and itself shall ye break. 

All kinds of food which may be eaten, on which 
water cometh, shall be unclean: and all drink 
that may be drui,k, shall be rendered unclean in 
every vessel. 

And every thing whereupon any part of their 
carcass falleth, shall be unclean: an oven, or 
ranges for pots, shall be broken down, they are 
unclean; and unclean shall they be unto you. 

Nevertheless, a fountain, or pit, receptacles for 
water, shall be clean ; bat he that toucheth their 
carcass shall be unclean. 

And if any part of their carcass fall upon any 
sowing-seed which hath been sown, it shall be 
clean. 

But if any water be put upon the seed, and any 
part of their carcass fall thereon, it shall be un- 
clean unto you, 

And if any cattle die, which is allowed to you 
as food : he that toucheth its carcass shall be un- 
clean until the evening. 

And he that eateth of its carcass shall wash his 
clothes, and be unclean until the evening; he also 
that beareth its carcass shall wash his clothes, and 
be unclean until the evening. 

And every creeping thing that creepeth upon 
the earth is an abomination ; it shall not be eaten. 

Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatso- 
ever goeth upon four feet, down to whatsoever 
hath many feet among all creeping things that 
creep upon the earth, shall ye not eat; for they 
are an abomination. 

Y"e shall not make yourselves abominable with 
any creeping thing that creepeth; and ye shall 
not make yourselves unclean with them, that ye 
should be defiled thereby. 



Pearls from the Bible. 85 

For I am the Lord your God; ye shall there- 
fore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for 
I am holy: neither shall ye make yourselves un- 
clean with any manner of creeping thing that 
creepeth upon the earth. 

For I am the Lord that have brought you up 
out of the land of Egypt, to be your God ; ye shall 
therefore be holy, for I am holy. 

This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, 
and of every living creature that moveth in the 
waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon 
the earth': 

To distinguish between the unclean and the 
clean, and between the beast that may be eaten 
and the beast that may not be eaten. 

This chapter is one of the most important in 
the Bible, as it concerns the health of every in- 
dividual. Those individuals and families who 
observe this law, "Of what thou shalt eat, and 
what thou shalt not eat," are in return blessed 
with good health. It is the observance of this 
law by the Israelites throughout the world, in all 
ages and climes, that has preserved them in good 
health and vigor. The statistics show that the 
Israelites live longer than other races, and they 
owe thi3 blessing to the bill-of-fare so clearly 
stated by Moses. It would be well if this law were 
generally adopted as the guide what to eat ancl 
what not to eat. Instead of treating it with 
levity, study it in order to comprehend it more 
clearly. 

And it shall come to pass, when all these things 
are oome upon thee, the blessing and the curse, 



86 Pearls from the Bible. 

which I have set before thee, and thou reflectest 
on them in thy heart among all the nations, 
whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, 

So that thou returnest unto the Lord thy God, 
and hearkenest unto his voice according to all 
that I command this day, thou and thy children, 
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul : 3 

That then the Lord thy God will restore thy 
captivity, and have mercy upon thee; and he will 
again gather thee from all the nations, whither 
the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. 

If thy outcasts be at the outmost parts of 
heaven, from there will the Lord thy God gather 
thee, and from there will he fetch thee: 

And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the 
land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt 
possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply 
thee above thy fathers. 

And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy 
heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord 
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, 
in order that thou mayest live. 

And the Lord thy God will put all these de- 
nunciations upon thy enemies, and on those that 
hate thee, who have persecuted thee. 

And thou wilt return and hearken unto the 
voice of the Lord, and thou wilt do all his com- 
mandments which I command thee this day. 

And the Lord thy God will make thee pre- 
eminent in every work of thy hand, in the fruit 
of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in 
the fruit of thy land, for good; for the Lord will 
again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced 
over thy fathers; 

If thou wilt hearken unto the voice of the Lord 
thy God, to keep his commandments and his 
Statutes which are written in this book of the 



Pearls from the Bible. 87 

law; if thou wilt return unto the Lord thy God 
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. 

For this commandment which I command 
thee this day, is not hidden from thee, nor is it 
far off. 

It is not in heaven; that thou shouldst say, 
Who will go up for us to heaven, and fetch it 
down unto us, and cause us to hear it, that we 
may do it? 

Neither is it beyond the sea; that thou shouldst 
say, Who will go over the sea for us, and fetch 
it unto us, and cause us to hear it, that we may 
do it. 

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy 
mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 

See, I have set before thee this day life and the 
good, death and the evil: 

In that I command thee this day to love the 
Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep 
his commandments and his statutes and his ordi- 
nances; that thou mayest live and multiply; and 
that the Lord thy God may bless thee in the land 
whither thou goest to possess it. 

But if thy heart turn away, so that thou wilt 
not hearken, and thou sufferest thyself to be 
drawn away, and thou bowed down to other gods, 
and servest them : 

I announce unto you this d'ay, that ye shall 
surely perish ; ye shall not remain many days 
upon the land, whither thou passest over the Jor- 
dan to go thither to possess it. 

I call heaven and earth as witnesses against 
you this day, that I have set before you life and 
death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose 
thou life, in order that thou mayest live, both 
thou and thy seed ; 

To love the Lord thy God, to hearken to his 



88 Pearls from the -Bible. 

voice, and to cleave unto Lim; for be is thy life, 
and the length of thy days; that thou mayest 
dwell in the land which the Lord swore unto thy 
fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to 
give unto them. 

Moses, in all his admonitions to the people of 
Israel, never promised future reward in heaven, 
nor punishment in hell. 

The blessings and the curses which he so 
vividly depicted, all, without an exception, belong 
to the present life. Such teaching is especially 
beneficial to the masses, because it is of a practical 
nature. It conveys the idea that if your conduct 
will be good, 3*011 will have it good; otherwise not. 

Moses also warned the people against spiritual- 
ism in the following terse expressions : 

" The secret things belong unto the Lord our 
God; but those things which are publicly known 
belong unto us and to our children for ever, to do 
all the words of this law." 

It would be well with those who are spiritualists 
to be guided by the above admonition by Moses. 
It certainly would save them from an ocean of 
thralldom, which frequently ends with broken 
health and insanity. 

Concern yourself more with earthly affairs, 
which would better the condition of the poor who 
have a hard struggle for the necessaries of life, 
and of bringing up their children properly. Such 
work will bring forth good results, which will be 
called blessed. 



Pearls fro;i the Bible. 89 

And Moses wont and spoke these words unto 
all Israel. 

And he said unto them, I am a hundred and 
twenty years old this day; I am not able any 
more to go out and come in; for the Lord hath 
said unto mo, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 

The Lord thy God it is who goeth over before 
thee; he will destroy these nations from before 
thee, and thou shalt dispossess them : Joshua' it 
is who goeth over before thee, as the Lord hath 
spoken. 

And the Lord will do unto them as he hath 
done to Sichon and to 'Og, the kings of the 
Emorites, and unto their land, whom he hath 
destroyed. 

And the Lord will give them up before you; 
and ye shall do unto them according, unto the 
whole of the commandmeut which I have com- 
manded you. 

Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid 
and be not dismayed on account of them; for the 
Lord thy G-od it is that goeth with thee; he will 
not let thee fail, nor forsake thee. 

And Moses called unto Joshua', and said unto 
him before the eyes of all Israel, Be strong and of 
a good courage; for thou must go with this peo- 
ple unto the land which the Lord hath sworn 
unto their fathers, to give unto them; and thou 
shalt divide it for them as a possession. 

And the Lord it is that goeth before thee; he 
will be with thee, he will not let thee fail, nor 
will he forsake thee: fear not, nor be thou dis- 
couraged. 

And Moses wrote down this law, and delivered 
it unto the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the 
ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the 
elders of Israel. 



90 Pearls from the Bible. 

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the 
end of (every) seven years, at the fixed time of 
the year of release, on the feast of tabernacles, 

When all Israel come to appear before the Lord 
thy God in the place which he will choose, shalt 
thou read this law in the presence of all Israel in 
their hearing. 

Assemble the people together, the men, and the 
women, and the children, and thy stranger that 
is within thy gates; in order that they may hear, 
and in order that they may learn how they are to 
fear the Lord your G-od, and to observe to do all 
the words of this law; 

And that their children, who have not yet any 
knowledge, may hear and learn to fear the Lord 
your God, all the days which ye live in the land 
whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy 
days approach that thou must die; call Joshua', 
and place yourselves in the tabernacle of the con- 
gregation, that I may give him a charge: and 
Moses and Joshua' went and placed themselves in 
the tabernacle of the congregation. 

And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a 
pillar of cloud; and the pillar of cloud stood at 
the door of the tabernacle. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou 
shalt sleep with thy fathers: and then will this 
people rise up and go astray after the gods of the 
strangers of the land, whither they go to be in 
the midst of them, and they will forsake me, and 
break my covenant which I have made with them. 

And my anger shall be kindled against them on 
that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide 
my face from them, and they shall be given to be 
devoured, and many evils and troubles shall over- 
take them ; and they will say on that day, Is it 



Pearls from the Bible. 91 

not, because my God is not in the midst of me, 
that these evils have overtaken me ? 

But I will assuredly hide my face on that day 
on account of all the evils which they have 
wrought, because they have turned unto other 
gods. 

Now therefore write ye for yourselves this song, 
and teach it the children of Israel, put it in their 
mouth; in order that this song may become for 
me a witness against the children ot Israel. 

For when I shall have brought them into the 
land which I have sworn unto their fathers, that 
floweth with milk and honey; and they shall 
have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat: 
then will they turn unto other gods and serve 
them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. 

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and 
troubles have befallen them, that this song shall 
testify against them as a witness; for it shall not 
be forgotten out of the mouth of their seed; for I 
know their inclination which they have shown, 
even this day, before I have brought them into 
the land which I have sworn. 

And Moses wrote down this song on the same 
day, and taught it the children of Israel. 

And he gave a charge unto Joshua' the son of 
Nun, and said, Be strong and of a good courage; 
for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the 
land which I have sworn unto them; and I will 
be with thee. 

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an 
end of writing the words of this law in a book, 
until they were finished, 

That Moses commanded the Levites, the bearers 
of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, 

Take this book of the law, and put it at the 
side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your 



92 Pearls from the Bible. 

God, that it may remain there against thee for 
a witness. 

Fori know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: 
behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, 
have ye been rebellious against the Lord, and 
how much more alter my death ? 

Assemble unto me all the elders of your tribes, 
and your officers; and I will speak in their ears 
these words, and I will call as witnesses against 
them the heavens and the earth. 

For I know that after my death ye will to a 
surety become corrupt, and turn aside from the 
way which I have commanded you; and that the 
evil will befall you in the latter days, when ye do 
the evil in the eyes of the Lord, to incense him 
through the work of your hands. 

And Moses spoke in the ears of all the congre- 
gation of Israel the words of this song, until they 
were ended. 

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and 
let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech 
shall distil as the dew, as heavy rains upon the 
grass, and as showers upon herbs. 

When I call on the name of the Lord, ascribe 
ye greatness unto our God. 

He is the Bock, his work is perfect; for all his 
ways are just; the God of truth and without 
iniquity, just and upright is he. 

The corruption is not his, it is the defect of 
his children, of the perverse and crooked genera- 
tion. 

Will ye thus requite the Lord, O people, worth- 
less and unwise? is he not thy father who bath 
bought thee? is it not he who hath made thee, 
and established thee? 

Kemember the days of old, consider the years 



Pearls from the Bible. 93 

of former generations; ask thy father, and he 
will tell thee; thy elders, and they will say unto 
thee: 

When the Most High divided to the nations 
their inheritance, when he separated the sons of 
man: he set the bounds of the tribes according to 
the number of the sons of Israel. 

For the portion of the Lord is his people; Jacob 
is the lot of bis inheritance. 

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste 
of the howling of the wilderness; he encircled 
him, he watched him, he guarded him as the ap- 
ple of his eye. 

As an eagle stirreth up his nest, fluttereth over 
his young, spreadeth abroad his wings, seizeth 
them, beareth them aloft on his pinions: 

So did the Lord alone lead him, and there was 
not with him a stranger god. 

He caused him to stride on the high places of 
the earth, and ho ate the products of the fields; 
and ho made him to suck honey out of the rock, 
and oil out of the flinty stone; 

Cream of cows, and milk of sheep, with fat of 
lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and 
goats, with the fat of the kidneys of wheat; and 
of the blood of the grape thou drankest unmixed 
wine. 

Thus did Yeshurun grow fat, and he kicked; 
(thou art grown fat, thick, fleshy;) and then he 
forsook the God who made him, and lightly es- 
teemed the Eock of his salvation. 

They incensed him with strange gods, with 
abominations they provoked him to anger. 

They sacrificed unto evil spirits, things that are 
not god, gods that they knew not, new ones lately 
come up, which your fathers dreaded not. 

Of the Eock that begat thee thou wast unmind- 



94 Pearls from the Bible. 

ful, and forgottest the Grod that had brought thee 
forth. 

And the Lord saw this, and he was angry; be- 
cause of the provoking of his sons and of his 
daughters. 

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I 
will see what their end will be; for a perverse 
generation are they, children in whom there is 
no faith. 

They have moved me to wrath with things that 
are not god; they have provoked me to anger 
with their vanities; and I too will move them to 
jealousy with those which are not a people; I 
will provoke them to anger with a worthless 
nation. 

For a fire is kindled in my anger, and it burneth 
unto the lowest deep; and it consumeth the earth 
with her products, and it setteth on fire the founda- 
tions of the mountains. 

I will heap upon them miseries; ail my arrows 
will I spend upon them. 

They shall be wasted with hunger, and -de- 
voured with burning heat, and with bitter deadly 
disease; also the tooth of beasts will I let loose 
against them, with the poison of serpents thatcrawl 
in the dust. 

Without shall the sword destroy, and terror 
within the chambers, both the young man and 
the virgin, the suckling with the man of gray 
hairs. 

I said, I would drive them into one corner, I 
would cause their remembrance to cease from 
among men: 

Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, 
lest their oppressors should mistake the truth, lest 
they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord 
hath not wrought all this. 



Pearls from the Bible. 95 

For a nation void of counsel are they, and there 
is no understanding in them. 

If they were but wise, they would understand 
this, they would consider their latter end! 

How should one chase a thousand, and two put 
ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold 
them, and the Lord had delivered them up? 

For not as our Rock is their Rock, even our 
enemies themselves being judges. 

For from the vine of Sodom is their vine, and 
from the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are 
grapes of gall, they bear bitter clusters. 

The poison of serpents is their wine, and the 
deadly venom of asps. 

Behold! this is laid up in store with me, it is 
sealed up among my treasures! 

Mine are vengeance and recompense, at the 
time that their foot shall slip; for nigh draweth 
the day of their calamity, and the future speedeth 
along for them. 

For the Lord will espouse the cause of his peo- 
ple, and bethink himself concerning his servants: 
when he seeth that their power is gone, and the 
guarded and fortified are no more. 

Then will he say, Where are their gods, the 
Rock in whom they trusted, 

They that ate the fat of their sacrifices, and 
drank the wine of their drink-offerings? let them 
arise and help you, let them be a protection over 
you. 

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no 
god with me: I alone kill, and I make alive; I 
wound, and I heal ; and no one can deliver out of 
my hand. 

For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I 
live for ever. 

When I whet my glittering sword, and my 



96 Pearls from the Bible. 

hand taketh hold on judgment: I will render 
vengeance unto my enemies, and those that hate 
me will I requite. 

I will make my arrows drunken with blood, 
and my sword shall devour flesh; from the blood 
of the slain, and of the captives, from the crushed 
head of the enemy. 

Speak aloud, O ye nations, the praises of his 
people; for he will avenge the blood of his serv- 
ants, and vengeance will he render to his adver- 
saries, and forgive his land and his people. 

And Moses came and spoke all the words of this 
song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea' 
the son of Nun. 

And when Moses had made an end of speaking 
all these words to all Israel : 

He said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the 
words which I testify against you this day, so 
that ye may command them your children, to ob- 
serve to do all the words of this law. 

For it is not a vain word for you; on the con- 
trary, it is your life; and through this word shall 
ye live many days in the land, whither ye go over 
the Jordan to possess it. 

And the Lord spoke unto Moses on that self- 
same day, saying, 

G-et thee up into this mountain of 'Abarim, unto 
mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is 
in front of Jericho; and behold the land of Cana'an, 
which I give unto the children of Israel for a 
possession ; 

And die on the mount whither thou goest up, 
and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy 
brother died on mount Hor, and was gathered 
unto his people; 

Because ye trespassed against me in the midst 
of the children of Israel at the waters of conten- 



Pearls From the Bible. 97 

tion at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because 
ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of 
Israel. 

For from afar shalt thou see the land ; but 
thither shalt thou not go unto the land which I 
give the children of Israel. 

In the foregoing chapters we have the parting 
words of Moses, not only to the assemblage be- 
fore him, but to all future generations in Israel 
and mankind at large. 

What is it that he so urgently recommended to 
be observed ? It is the Ten Commandments, 
which are the clearest and most precious pearls 
in the Bible. The other commandments, in de- 
tail, concerning social, commercial, and agricul- 
tural relations are gathered around them, which 
he earnestly endeavored to impress on the people 
for ever by these words : 

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy 
children, and thou shalt speak of them when thou 
sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by 
thy way, and when thou liest down, and when 
thou risest u£>. 

"And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy 
hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thy 
eyes. 

"And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts 
of thy house, and upon thy gates." 

To have his laws read and expounded before 
the people by the priests for ever was the climax 

4 



98 Pearls from the Bible. 

of his great work. To this act Moses is indebted 
to have his laws so well observed and highly 
cherished by millions of the most intelligent peo- 
ple on the face of the earth. 

To the Israelites belong the great honor of 
having not only preserved the Bible, but also of 
diligently studying it, and observing its teachings 
fully.^ "The study of the law is paramount" be- 
came the watchword of every father and mother 
in Israel. What are the results? Every home 
became a temple, every table an altar, every hus- 
band and father a high priest, and every wife and 
mother the high priestess; and under their guid- 
ance the children grew up to fear and to love 
God, to honor their parents truly, and observe 
the other laws faithfully, which kept them on the 
righteous path, and made them prosperous and 
good citizens everywhere. 

Through ignorance, bigotry, extreme selfish- 
ness, and narrow-minded statesmanship, the 
Israelites were, during nearly two thousand years, 
most shamefully persecuted. It was the privilege 
almost of every urchin and every scoundrel to 
throw mud against the great name of Israel. 
The Israelites nevertheless retained their noble 
manhood and graceful womanhood unimpaired, 
and they stand to-day before the civilized nations 
as the High Priest of religious life, recognizing 
God as the architect of the universe, the Soul of 
ail that exists, the Father of mankind, which, as 
a consequence, leads to one common brotherhood, 



Pearls from the Bible. 99 

one law for all, and every one to share in the 
responsibilities and the blessings of life. 

Moses! thou lofty genius, with lofty aspira- 
tions! thou intrepid leader! thou great law-giver! 
whose laws happily became interwoven not only 
with the Israelites, but other nations to whom it 
io a never failing source of perpetual bliss, as it 
secures confidence and peace to every individual, 
and the State. 

Confidence and peace are the bases of prosperity 
and well-being. To thy creative power inspired 
by God, to thy matchless patience, and consum- 
mate tact, Israel and mankind are indebted for 
laws and teachings which guide them to the path 
of righteousuess, which makes life happy and 
content. 

Blessed bo thy name and memory for ever. Be 
thou crowned with the imperishable wreath of 
the highest approval for thy great work by all 
the nations of the earth. May the mount of Nebo 
and the top of Pisgah, from which Moses looked 
so wistfully to the promised land, be considered 
holy grounds. It was his last act before he died 
at the age of one hundred and twenty years, his 
eye undimmed, and his natural force unabated, 
to look from these mountains. He is buried in 
the land of Moab, opposite Beth-po'ar, but no 
man knows where his sepulchre is to this day. 

And it came to pass after the death of Moses, 
the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke unto 



100 Pearls from the Bible. 

Joshua' the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, 
saying, 

Moses my servant is dead ; now therefore arise, 
pass over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, 
unto the land which I do give to them, to the' 
children of Israel. 

Every place that the sole of your foot shall 
tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said 
unto Moses. 

From the wilderness and this Lebanon even 
unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the 
land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea to- 
ward the going down of the sun, shall be your 
boundary. 

No man shall be able to stand up before thee 
all the days of thy life; as I was with Moses, so 
will I be with thee: I will not let thee fail, nor 
forsake thee. 

Be strong and of a good courage! for thou shalt 
divide for an inheritance unto this people the land, 
which I swore unto their fathers to give to them. 

Only be thou strong and very courageous, to 
observe to do according to all the law, which 
Moses my servant hath commanded thee: turn 
not from it to the right hand or to the left; in 
order that thou may est prosper whithersoever 
thou goest. 

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy 
mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and 
night, in order that thou mayest observe to do 
according to all that is written therein; for then 
shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then 
shalt thou have good success. 

Behold, I have commanded thee, Be strong and 
of good courage; be not dismayed, neither be thou 
discouraged; for the Lord thy God is with thee 
whithersoever thou goest, 



Pearls from the Bible. 10i 

Then Joshua' commanded the officers of the 
people, saying, 

Pass through the midst of the camp, and com- 
mand the people, saying, Prepare yourselves pro- 
visions; for alter only three days more ye shall 
pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, 
which the Lord your God giveth you, to possess it. 

And to the Eeiibenites, and to the Gadites, and 
to half the tribe of Menasseh, spoke Joshua', say- 
ing, 

Remember the word which Moses the servant 
of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord 
your God hath granted you rest, and hath given 
you this land; 

Your wives, your little -ones, and your cattle, 
shall remain in the land which Moses gave you 
on this side of the Jordan; but ye shall pass over 
armed before your brethren, all the mighty men 
of valour, and help them; 

Until the Lord shall have granted your breth- 
ren rest, as he hath done to you, and they also 
have taken possession of the land which the Lord 
your God giveth them: then shall ye return unto 
the land of your possession, and possess it, which 
Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on this 
side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun. 
And they answered Joshua', saying, All that 
thou hast commanded us will we do, and whither- 
soever thou wilt send us will we go. 

Entirely so as we have hearkened unto Moses, 
thus will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord 
thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. 

Every man that doth rebel against thy order, 
and will not hearken unto thy words, in all that 
thou mayest command him, shall be put to death: 
only be strong, and of a good courage. 



102 Pearls from the Bible. 

Joshua', the successor of Moses, was an earnest 
man, and a born commander. The first glimpse 
we have of him was when he came with Moses 
from Mount Sinai, and said to Moses: "There is 
a noise of war in the camp. It is not the voice 
of a shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of a 
cry for defeat; the noise of singing do I hear." 
And he was correct. It was the noise of the chil- 
dren of Israel when dancing around the golden 
calf, exclaiming " These are thy gods, Israel ! " 
It is the same way now. There are those that 
dance around the golden calf exclaiming "Gold is 
God," make a great deal of noise, and that is all 
that it amounts to. Especially those, when the 
gold slips away from them, become hopelessly un- 
done, and perish out of sight. 

What inspiring words we have for all time in 
these lines : 

" Behold, I have commanded thee, Be strong 
and of good courage ; be not dismayed, neither 
be thou discouraged ; for thy God is with thee 
whithersoever thou goest." r 

Half of the battle of life is triumphantly won if 
we are of good courage, and do not become dis- 
mayed through disappointments. Work with 
might and main, and look heavenward for bless- 
ing to Him who is our shield and our salvation. 

But the children of Israel committed a trespass 
on the devoted things; for 'Achan. the son of 
Carrni, the son of'Zabdi, the son of'Zeraeh, 01 tae 
tribe of Judah, took of the devoted things; and 



Pearls from the Bible. 103 

the anger of the Lord was kindled against the 
children of Israel. 

And Joshua' sent men from Jericho to 'Ai, 
which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of 
Beth-el, and said unto them, thus, Go up and spy 
out the country. And the men went up and spied 
out 'Ai. 

And they returned to Joshua', and said unto 
him, Let not all the people go up; but let about 
two or three thousand men go up and smite 'Ai : 
do not fatigue all the people (to go) thither; for 
they are but few. 

So there went up thither of the people about 
three thousand men; and they fled before the 
men of 'Ai. 

And the men of 'Ai smote of them about thirty 
and six men; and they chased them from before 
the gate unto the stone-quarries, and smote them 
on the declivity (of the hill); wherefore the heart 
of the people melted, and became as water. 

And Joshua' rent his clothes, and fell upon his 
face to the earth before the ark of the Lord until 
the evening, he with the elders of Israel, and they 
put dust upon their head. 

And Joshua' said, Alas, O Lord Eternal, where- 
fore hast thou caused this people to pass over the 
Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Emori- 
tes, to destroy us? and oh! that we had been con- 
tent, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan ! 

I pray thee, O Lord, what shall I say, since 
Israel have turned their back before the enemies? 

And when the Cana'anites and all the inhabi- 
tantsofthe land will hear of it,they will environ us 
round, and cut off our name from the earth; and 
what wilt thou do for thy great name? 

And the Lord said unto Joshua', Get thee up; 
wherefore liest thou upon thy face? 



104 Pearls from the Bible. 

Israel hath sinned, and they have also trans- 
gressed my covenant which I have commanded 
them; and they have also taken of the devoted 
things, and have also stolen, and have also dis- 
sembled, and they have also put it into their own 
vessels. 

Therefore will the children of Israel not be able 
to stand up before their enemies; their back will 
they turn before their enemies, because they have 
become accursed : I will not be any more with 
you, except ye destroy the accursed from among 
you. 

Eise up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify 
yourselves against to-morrow; for thus hath said 
the Lord the God of Israel, An accursed thing is 
in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou shalt not be 
able to stand up before thy enemies, until ye have 
removed the accursed from among you. 

And ye shall be brought near in the morning 
according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the 
tribe which the Lord will seize shall come near 
according to its families; and the family which 
the Lord will seize shall come near by households; 
and the household which the Lord will seize shall 
come near by its men. N 

And it shall be, that he that is seized with the 
accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all 
that he hath; because he hath transgressed the 
covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought 
wickedness in Israel. 

So Joshua' rose up early in the morning, and 
brought Israel near by their tribes, and the tribe 
of Judah was seized; 

And he brought near the family of Judah, and 
he seized the family of the Zarchites; and he 
brought near the family of the Zarchites by its 
men, and Zabdi was seized; 



Pearls from the Bible. 105 

And he brought near his household by its men, 
and 'Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, 
the son of Zeraeh, of the tribe of Judah, was 
seized. 

And Joshua' said unto 'Achan, My son, give, I 
pray thee, glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, 
and make confession unto him; and tell me, I 
pray thee, what thou hast done : hide nothing 
from me. 

And 'Achan answered Joshua', and said, Truly! 
I have indeed sinned against the Lord the God of 
Israel, and thus have I done : 

I saw among the spoil a handsome Babylonish 
mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a 
wedge of gold of fifty shekels in weight, and I 
coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they 
are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, 
with the silver beneath the same. 

Joshua' thereupon sent messengers, and they 
ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hidden in 
his tent, and the silver beneath it. 

And they took them out of the midst of the 
tent, and brought them unto Joshua', and unto 
all the children of Israel, and they laid them out 
before the Lord. 

And Joshua' took 'Achan the son of Zeraeh, and 
the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, 
and his sons, and his daughters, and his ox, and 
his ass, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that 
he had, and all Israel were with him, and they 
brought them up unto the valley of 'Achor. 

And Joshua' said, How hast thou troubled us! 
so shall the Lord trouble thee this day. And all 
Israel stoned him with stones, and burnt them 
with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 

And they raised over him a great heap of stones 
(which is) unto this day ; and the Lord turned 



106 Pearls from the Bible. 

from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the 
name of that place was called, The Valley of 'Achor 
unto this day. 

The foregoing records disclose that the teach- 
ings of Moses had been deeply rooted in the minds 
and hearts of the children of Israel. This is 
proved by the fact that out of the large army, 
consisting of hundreds of thousands of men, there 
was only one who broke the Ten Commandments 
by appropriating a handsome Babylonish mantle, 
two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of 
gold of fifty shekels in weight. The punishment 
for the misdeed was swift and terrible, and had 
no doubt a salutary effect upon the whole people. 

Laws to be effective must be impartially and 
promptly executed. If that is not done, demorali- 
zation begins, which will end personal liberty, on 
the ruins of which a tyrant will mount and rule 
the people by the sword. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua', Fear not, 
neither be thou discouraged: take with thee all 
the people of war, and arise, go up to 'Ai; see, I 
have given into thy hand the king of 'Ai, and his 
people, and his city, and his land. 

And thou shalt do to 'Ai and to its king, as thou 
hast done unto Jericho and its king; only its spoil 
and its cattle shall ye take for booty unto your- 
selves; but lay thee an ambush for the city in its 
rear. 

So Joshua' arose, and all the people of war, to 
go up against 'Ai: and Joshua' chose out thirty 
thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them 
away by night. 



Pearls from the Bible. 107 

And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye 
shall lie in wait against the city, in the rear of the 
city; go not very far from the city; and be ye all 
ready ; 

And I, and all the people that are with me, will 
approach unto the city; and it shall come to pass 
that, when they come out against us, as at the 
first time,, we will flee before them ; 

And they will come out after us, till we have 
drawn them from the city; for they will say. They 
flee before us as at the first time: and we will flee 
before them. 

And then shall ye rise up from the ambush, and 
take possession ot the city; and the Lord your 
God will deliver it into your hand. 

And it shall be, that as soon as ye have seized 
the city, ye shall set the city on fire; according 
to the word of the Lord shall ye do: see, I have 
commanded you. 

- And Joshua' sent them off: and they went to 
lie in ambush, and remained between Beth-el and 
'Ai, on the west side of 'Ai; but Joshua' lodged 
that night among the people. 

And Joshua' rose up early in the morning, and 
numbered the people, and went up, he and the 
elders of Israel, before the people, toward 'Ai. 

And all the people of war that were with him 
went up, and drew nigh, and came opposite the 
city, and encamped on the north side of 'Ai; and 
the valley was between them and 'Ai. 

And he took about five thousand men, and set 
them as an ambush between Beth-el and 'Ai, on 
the west side of 'Ai. 

And the people, all the camp that was on the 
north of the city, and its ambush on the west of 
the city got ready; and Joshua' went that night 
into the midst of the valley. 



108 Pearls from the Bible. 

And it came to pass, when the king of 'Ai saw 
this, the men of the city hastened and rose up 
early, and went out against Israel to battle, he 
and all his people, at the time appointed, before 
the plain; but he knew not that there was an 
ambush against him in the rear of the city. 

And Joshua' and all Israel feigned themselves 
beaten before them, and fled by the way of the 
wilderness. 

And all the people that were in 'Ai were called 
together to pursue after them; and they pursued 
after Joshua' and were drawn away from the city. 

And there was not a man left in 'Ai or Beth-el, 
that went not out after Israel; and they left the 
city open, and pursued after Israel. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua', Stretch out 
the spear that is in thy hand toward 'Ai; for into 
thy hand will I give it. And Joshua' stretched 
out the spear which was in his hand toward the 
city. 

And the ambush arose quickly out of their 
place, and they ran as soon as he stretched out 
his hand; and they entered into the city, and 
took possession of it, and hastened and set the 
city on fire. 

And the men of 'Ai turned (and looked) behind 
them, and they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the 
city ascended up to heaven; and they had no 
power to flee this way or that way; and the peo- 
ple that had fled to the wilderness turned back 
upon the pursuers. 

For when Joshua' and all Israel saw that the 
ambush had seized the city, and that the smoke 
of the city ascended : they turned back, and 
smote the men of 'Ai. 

And the others issued out of the city against 
them j so that the Israelites had them in the mid* 



Pearls from the Bible. 109 

die, some on this side, and some on that side ; and 
they smote them, until there was not left of them 
one that remained or escaped. 

And the king of 'Ai they caught alive, and 
brought him to Joshua'. 

And it came to pass, that, when Israel had 
made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of 'Ai 
in the field, in the wilderness wherein they had 
pursued them, and when they were all fallen by 
the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, 

All the Israelites ruturned unto 'Ai, and smote 
it with the edge of the sword. 

And (the number of) all that fell in that day, 
both of men and women, was twelve thousand, all 
the people of 'Ai. 

And Joshua' drew not back his hand, where- 
with he had stretched out the spear, until he had 
utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of 'Ai. 

Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel 
took as booty unto themselves, according to the 
word of the Lord which he had commanded 
Joshua'. 

And Joshua' burnt 'Ai, and made it a ruinous 
heap of desolation for ever, even unto this day. 

And the king of 'Ai he hanged on a tree until 
eventide; and at the going down of the sun, 
Joshua' commanded, and they took his carcass 
down from the tree and cast it at the entrance of 
the city gate, and they raised over him a great 
heap of stones, (which is) even unto this day. 

Then did Joshua' build an altar unto the Lord, 
the (rod of Israel, on mount 'Ebal, 

As Moses the servant of the Lord had com- 
manded the children of Israel, as it is written in 
the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole 
stones, over which no one had lifted up any iron 



110 Pearls from the Bible. 

tool ; and they offered thereon burnt-offerings 
unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace-offerings. 

And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of 
the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence 
of the children of Israel. 

And all Israel, and their elders, and the officers, 
and their judges, stood on this side and on that 
side of the ark, opposite the priests the Levites, 
who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the 
stranger no less than the native born : half of 
them turned toward mount Gerizzim, and the 
other half of them turned toward mount 'Ebal ; 
as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded, 
to bless the people of Israel at first. 

And afterward he read all the words of the law, 
the blessing and the curse, all, just as it is written 
in the book of the law. 

There was not a word of all that Moses had 
commanded, which Joshua' did not read before 
all the congregation of Israel, with the women, 
and the little ones, and the stranger that walked 
in the midst of them. 

Here we have the first record of strategy in war. 
To forward an army of thirty thousand mighty 
men of valour during the night to march against 
the rear of the city, while Joshua' drew on the 
enemy in the front of the city, and retreated in 
order to draw away the defenders of the city, and 
give his army in the rear of the besieged city a 
better chance to capture the place with as little 
loss as possible. 

The Israelites celebrated the victory with re- 
ligious service, and the laws of Moses were read 
before the soldiers, the women, the children, and 



Pearls from the Bible. Ill 

the strangers, as Moses directed them to do. This 
is even now practiced in the synagogues by the 
Israelites everywhere, and which is one of the 
causes that preserves the race intact. 

And it came to pass, when all the kings that 
were on this side of the Jordan, in the mountain, 
and in the lowlands, and in all the coast of the 
great sea opposite Lebanon, the Hittites, and the 
Etnorites, the Cana'anites, the Perizzites, the 
Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard this, 

That they assembled themselves all together, to 
fight with Joshua' and with Israel, with one ac- 
cord. 

And when the inhabitants of Gib'on heard what 
Joshua had done unto Jericho and unto 'Ai, 

They also did work wilily, and went and feigned 
to be messengers, and took old sacks for their 
asses, and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and bound 

up; 

And (put) old and patched-up shoes upon their 
feet, and old garments upon themselves; and all 
the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 

And they went to Joshua' unto the camp at 
G-ilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of 
Israel, We are come from a far-off country; and 
now make ye a covenant with us. 

And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, 
Perad venture ye dwell in the midst of us; and 
how can we make a covenant with you? 

And they said unto Joshua', We are thy serv- 
ants. And Joshua' said unto them, Who are ye? 
and whence come ye? 

And they said unto him, From a very far-off 
country are thy servants come, because of the 
name of the Lord thy God; for wo have heard his 
fame, and all that he hath done in Egypt; 



112 Pearls from the Bible. 

And all that he hath done to the two kings of 
the Emorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to 
Sichon the king of Cheshbon, and to 'Og the king 
of Bashan, who was at 'Ashtharoth. 

Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of 
our country said to us, as follow eth, Take pro- 
visions with you for the journey, and go to meet 
them, and say unto them, Your servants are we: 
and now make ye with us a covenant. 

This our bread we took hot for our provision 
out of our houses on the day we came forth to go 
unto you; and now, behold, it is dry, and it is 
become mouldy ; 

And these wine-bottles, which we filled, when 
new — but behold, they are now become rent; and 
these our garments and our shoes are become worn 
out by reason of the very long journey. 

And the men took of their provisions, but the 
decision of the Lord they did not ask. 

And Joshua' made peace with them, and made 
a covenant with them, to let them live ; and the 
princes of the congregation swore unto them. 

And it came to pass, at the end of three days 
after they had made a covenant with them, that 
they heard that they were their neighbours, and 
that they dwelt in the midst of them. 

And the children of Israel broke up, and came 
unto their cities on the third day ; and their cities 
were G-ib'on, and Kephirah, and Beeroth, and 
Kiry ath -y e'arim. 

And the children of Israel smote them not; be- 
cause the princes of the congregation had sworn 
unto them by the Lord, the God of Israel ; but all 
the congregation murmured against the princes. 

And all the princes said unto all the congrega- 
tion, We have sworn unto them by the Lord the 
G-od of Israel ; and now we cannot touch them. 



Pearls from the Bible. 113 

This will we do to them, and we will let them 
live, that there be no wrath upon us, on account 
of the oath which we have sworn unto them. 

And the princes said unto them, Let them live: 
and they became hewers of wood and drawers of 
water unto all the congregation, as the princes 
had spoken unto them. 

And Joshua' called for them, and he spoke unto 
them, saying, Wherefore have ye deceived us, say- 
ing, We are very far from you: whereas ye dwell 
in the midst of us? 

And. now be ye cursed, and there shall not cease 
to be of you servants and hewers of wood and 
drawers of water for the house of my God. 

And they answered Joshua', and said, Because 
it was certainly told thy servants, how that the 
Lord thy God had commanded his servant Moses 
to give unto you all the land, and to destroy all 
the inhabitants of the land from before you; 
wherefore we were sore afraid for our lives be- 
cause of you, and we have done this thing. 

And now, behold, we are in thy hand; as it 
seemeth good and right in thy eyes to do unto us, 
so do. 

And he did unto them thus; and he delivered 
them out of the hand of the children of Israel, and 
they slew them not. 

And Joshua' appointed them on that day hewers 
of wood and drawers of water for the congrega- 
tion, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this 
day, for the place which he should choose. 

The inhabitants of Gib'on, called the Hivites, 
were evidently a people with keen perceptions. 
They perceived the danger that beset them, and 
practiced on Joshua' the most consummate trick 
ever practiced on a great general. 



114 Pearls from the Bible. 

Notwithstanding this unparalleled fraud by 
which they secured a favorable treaty, Joshua' 
and the princes of the congregation observed the 
treaty, and in that manifested the nobility of 
their manhood and the high state of civilization 
that they had reached. 

Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek the 
king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua' had cap- 
tured 'Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; (that) as 
he had done to Jericho and its king, so had he 
done to 'Ai and its king; and that the inhabitants 
of Gib'on had made peace with Israel, and were 
in the midst of them: 

That they were greatly afraid; because Gib'on 
was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and 
because it was greater than 'Ai, and all the men 
thereof were mighty. ^ 

Therefore Adoni-zedek the king of Jerusalem 
sent unto Hoham the king of Hebron, and unto 
Piram the king of Yarmuth, and unto Yaphia' the 
king of Lachish, and unto Debir the king of Eglon, 
saying, 

Come up unto me, and help me, that we may 
smite Gib'on; for it hath made peace with Joshua' 
and with the children of Israel. 

And the five kings of the Emorites, the king of 
Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king; of Yar- 
muth, the king of Lachish, the king of 'Eglon, as- 
sembled themselves together, and went up, they 
and all their camps, and encamped before Gib'on, 
and made war against it. 

And the men of Gib'on sent unto Joshua' to the 
camp to Gilgal, saying, Do not withdraw thy 
hand from thy servants: come up to us quickly, 
and save us, and help us; for all the kings of* the 



Pearls from the Bible. 115 

Emorites that dwell in the mountains are assem- 
bled together against us. 

And Joshua' went up from Gilgal, he, and 
all the people of war with him, and all the mighty 
men of valour. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua', Be not afraid 
of them; for into thy hand have I delivered them : 
there shall not stand a man of them before thee. 

And Joshua' came unto them suddenly; the 
whole night he went up from Gilgal. 

And the Lord brought them in confusion before 
Israel, and they smote them with a great slaughter 
at Gib'on, and pursued them by the way of the 
ascent to Beth-choron, and smote them up to 
'Azekah, and up to Makkedah. 

And it came to pass, as they fled from before 
Israel, while they were in the declivity of Beth- 
choron, that the Lord cast down upon them great 
stones from heaven, up to 'Azekah, and they died: 
there were more who died by means of the hail- 
stones than those whom the children of Israel had 
slain with the sword. 

Then spoke Joshua' to the Lord on the day 
when the Lord delivered up the Emorites before 
the children of Israel, and he said before the eyes 
of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gib'on; and 
thou, Moon, in the valley of Ayalon. 

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, 
until the people had avenged themselves upon 
their enemies. Is not this written in the book of 
Yashar? And the sun stood still in the midst of 
the heavens, and hastened not to go down about 
a whole day. 

And there was no day like that before it or 
after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice 
of a man ; for the Lord fought for Israel, 



116 Pearls from the Bible. 

And Joshua' returned, and all Israel with him, 
unto the camp to Gilgal. 

But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in 
the cave at Makkedah. 

And it was told to Joshua', saying, The five 
kings have been found hidden in the cave at 
Makkedah. 

And Joshua' said, Roll great stones to the 
mouth of the cave, and set men over it to guard 
them ; 

But you, do ye not stay, pursue after your ene- 
mies, and smite the hindmost of them: suffer 
them not to enter into their cities; for the Lord 
your God hath delivered them into your hand. 

And it came to pass, when Joshua' and the 
children of Israel had made an end of smiting 
them with a very great defeat, till they were all 
spent, and those that escaped had fled from them 
and entered into the fortified cities, 

That all the people returned to the camp to 
Joshua' at Makkedah in peace: no one pointed 
against any man of the children of Israel his 
tongue. 

Then said Joshua', Open the mouth of the cave, 
and bring out unto me those five kings out of the 
cave. 

And they did so, and brought forth unto him 
those five kings out of the cave, the king of Jeru- 
salem, the king of Hebron, the king of Yarmuth, 
the king of Lachish, the king of 'Eglon. 

And it came to pass, when they brought out 
those kings unto Joshua', that Joshua' called for 
all the men of Israel, and said unto the chiefs of 
the men of war who had gone with him, Come 
near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. 
And they came near, and put their feet upon their 
necks, 



Pearls from the Bible. 117 

And Joshua' said unto them, Fear not, nor be 
disheartened, be strong and of good courage; for 
thus will the Lord do unto all your enemies against 
whom ye fight. 

And Joshua' smote them afterward, and slew 
them, and hanged them on five trees; and they 
remained hanging upon the trees until theevening. 

And it came to pass at the time of the going 
down of the sun, that Joshua' commanded, and 
they took them down from the trees, and cast 
them into the cave wherein they had been hid- 
din; and they placed great stones upon the mouth 
of the cave, (which remain) even until this very 
day. 

And Joshua' captured Makkedah on that day, 
and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its 
king he devoted, them, and all the souls that were 
therein; he left none that escaped; and he did to 
the king of Makkedah as he had done unto the 
king of Jericho. 

Then did Joshua', and all Israel with him, pass 
from Makkedah unto Libnah; and he fought 
against Libnah; 

And the Lord delivered it also into the hand of 
Israel, with its king; and he smote it with the 
edge of the sword, and all the souls that were 
therein; he left none in it that escaped; and he 
did unto its king as he had done unto the king of 
Jericho. 

And Joshua', and all Israel with him, passed 
from Libnah unto Lachish,and encamped against 
it, and fought against it; 

And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand 
of Israel; and he captured it on the second day, 
and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all 
the souls that were therein: just as he had done 
to Libnah, 



118 Pearls from the Bible. 

Then came up Horam the king of Gezer to help 
Laehish; and Joshua' smote him and his people, 
until he had left him noue that escaped. 

And Joshua', and all Israel with him, passed 
from Laehish unto 'Eglon; and they encamped 
against it, and fought against it; 

And they captured it on that day, and smote it 
with the edge of the sword; and all the souls that 
were therein he devoted on that day: just as he 
had done to Laehish. 

And Joshua' and all Israel with him went up 
from 'Eglon unto Hebron; and they fought 
against it ; 

And they captured it, and smote it with the 
edge of the sword; and its king, and all its cities, 
and all the souls that were therein; he left none 
that escaped, just as he had done to 'Eglon ; and 
he devoted it, and all the souls that were therein. 

And Joshua' and all Israel with him returned 
toDebir; and fought against it ; 

And he captured it, and its king, and all its 
cities ; and they smote them with the edge of the 
6word,and devoted all the souls that were therein ; 
lie left none that escaped : as he had done to 
Hebron, so did he to Debir and to its king; and 
as he had done to Libnah and to its king. r _ 

And Joshua' smote all the country, the moun- 
tain, and the south, and the lowlands, and the 
declivities, and all their kings : he left none that 
escaped; and all that breathed he utterly de- 
stroyed, as the Lord, the God of Israel had com- 
manded. 

And Joshua' smote them from Kadesh-barnea' 
even unto Gazzah, and all the country of Goshen, 
even up to Gib'on. 

And all these kings and their land did Joshua' 



Pearls from the Bible. 119 

capture at one time; because the Lord, the God 
of Israel fought for Israel. 

And Joshua' returned, and all Israel with him, 
ULto the camp to Gilgal. 

Much has been said and written in regard to 
those remarkable words of Joshua': 

" Sun, stand thou still upon Gib'on, and thou, 
Moon, in the valley of Ayalon. 

"And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, 
until the people avenged themselves upon their 
enemies. And the sun stood still in the midst of 
the heavens, and hastened not to go down about 
a whole day. 

"And there was no day like that before it or 
after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice 
of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel." 

To those who have studied the laws of nature, 
and know its harmonious working, it seems al- 
most impossible that the sun and the moon would 
stand still for about a day. 

The only explanation for this is that everything 
is possible when God so wills it. It required not 
only good generalship and men of valor, but the 
help of God for the Israelites to conquer a land 
ruled by thirty-one kings, who formed an alliance 
to fight the Israelites, and who were nevertheless 
defeated. 

And the Lord spoke unto Joshua, saying, 
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint 
for yourselves the cities of refuge, whereof I have 
spoken unto you by the hand of Moses; 



120 Pearls from the Bible. 

That thither may flee the manslayer that killeth 
any person unawares, without knowledge; and 
they shall be unto you for a refuge from the 
avenger of the blood. 

And he shall flee unto one of those cities, and 
he shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the 
city, and speak in the ears of the elders of that 
city his words; and they shall take him into the 
city unto them, and give him a place, that he may 
dwell among them. 

And if the avenger of the blood should pursue 
after him, then shall they not deliver the man- 
slayer up into his hand; because without knowl- 
edge did he smite his neighbour, and he was not 
an enemy to him in time past. 

And he shall dwell in that city, until he shall 
have stood before the congregation for judgment, 
(and) until the death of the high-priest that may 
be in those days; then shall the manslayer re- 
turn, and come unto his own house, unto the city 
whence he hath fled. 

And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in the 
mountain of Naphtali, and Shechem in the moun- 
tain of Ephraim, and Kiryath-arba', which is 
Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. 

And on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho 
eastward, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness 
in the plain from the tribe of Eetiben,and Eamoth 
in Gil'ad from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in 
Bashan from the tribe of Menasseh. 

These were the cities assigned for all the chil- 
dren of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth 
among them, that thither might flee whosoever 
killeth any person at unawares, and that he should 
not die bv the hand of the avenger of the blood, 
until be have stood before the congregation. 



Pearls from the Bible. 121 

This Jaw has been wisely adopted by the civil- 
ized nations, especially so by England, who offers 
a refuge to all the oppressed. Many lives are 
thereby saved. We venture to say that not one 
of the thousands whose life was saved from cruel 
destruction ever felt grateful to Moses for having 
enacted it among his wise and humane laws. 

And Joshua' said unto the people, Ye will not 
be able to serve the Lord; for he is a holy God; 
he is a watchful God; he will not have any indul- 
gence for your transgressions and for your sins : 

If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, 
then will he again do you evil, and consume you, 
after that he hath done you good. 

And the people said unto Joshua', No ; never- 
theless the Lord will we serve. 

And Joshua' said unto the people, Ye are wit- 
nesses against yourselves that ye yourselves have 
chosen for you the Lord, to serve him. And they 
said, We are witnesses. 

And now put away the strange gods which are 
in the midst of you, and incline your heart unto 
the Lord the God of Israel. 

And the people said unto Joshua', The Lord 
our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. 

And Joshua' made a covenant with the people 
on that day, and set them a statute and an ordi- 
nance in Shechem. 

And Joshua' wrote these words in the book of 
the law of God; and he took a great stone, and 
set it up there under the oak, that was by the 
sanctuary of the Lord. 

And Joshua' said unto all the people, Behold, 
this stone shall be among us aa a witness; for it 
hath heard all the words of the Lord which he 



122 Pearls from the Bible. 

spoke unto us: it shall be therefore as a witness 
against you, that ye may not deny your G-od. 

And Joshua' let the people depart, every man 
unto his inheritance. 

And it came to pass after these things, that 
Joshua' the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, 
died, one hundred and ten years old. 

And they buried him on the border of his inherit- 
ance at Thimnath-serach, which is on the moun- 
tain of Ephraim, on the north side of mount Ga'ash. 

And Israel served the Lord all the days of 
Joshua', and all the days of the elders who lived 
many days after Joshua', and who had known all 
the deeds of the Lord, that he had done for Israel. 

And the bones of Joseph, which the children of 
Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried 
in Shechem, in a parcel of the field which Jacob 
had bought of the sons of Chamor the father of 
Shechem for one hundred kessitah: and it re- 
mained the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 

And El'azar the son of Aaron died; and they 
buried him on the hill of Phinehas his son, which 
was given him in the mountain of Ephraim. 

The death of a great man marks an epoch in 
the history of a nation. Joshua' was a great 
man, a worthy successor of Moses. He was a 
great priest, a great general, and an executive of 
a high order. Under his tactful leadership the 
Israelites not only conquered the country, but 
divided it among themselves amicably, and which 
could only be accomplished under a general and 
statesman as Joshua' was. He was great in war, 
and still greater in peace. A shining light in 
Israel and to mankind for all time and generations. 



Pearls from the Bible. 123 

And the children of Israel again did the evil in 
the eyes of the Lord, when Euud was dead. 

And the Lord sold them into the hand of Yabin 
the king of Cana'an, that reigned in (Jhazor; and 
the captain of his army was Sissera, who dwelt in 
Charosheth-hagoyim. 

And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord; 
for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he 
oppressed the children of Israel with might 
twenty years. 

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapi- 
doth — she judged Israel at that time. 

And she held her sitting under the palm-tree 
of Deborah between Eamah and Beth-el on the 
mountain of Ephraim ; and the children of Israel 
came up to her for judgment. 

And she sent and called Barak the son of 
Abino'am out of Kedesh-naphtali; and she said 
unto him. Behold, the Lord the God of Israel hath 
commanded, (xo and lead on toward mount Tua- 
bor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the 
children of Naphtali and of the children of 
Zebulun. 

And I will draw unto thee, to the brook Kishon, 
Sissera, the captain of Yabin's army, and his 
chariots and his multitude ; and I will give him 
up into thy hand. 

And Barak said unto her, If thou Wilt go with 
me, then will I go; but if thou wilt not go with 
me, I will not go. 

And she said, I will indeed go with thee; never- 
theless it will not be for thy honour, on the way 
which thou goest; for into the hand of a woman 
will the Lord deliver Sissera ; and Deborah arose, 
and went with Barak to Kedesh. 

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphta^i to- 
gether to Kedesh ; and there went up in his train 



124 Pearls from the Bible. 

ten thousand men ; also Deborah went up with 
him. 

Now Cheber the Kenite had severed himself 
from the Kenites, from the children of Chobab 
the father-in-law of Moses; and he had pitched 
his tent as far as Elon-beza'anannim, which is 
near Kedesh. 

And they told Sissera that Barak the son of 
Abino'am was gone up to mount Thabor. 

And Sissera called together all his chariots, nine 
hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that 
were with him, from Charosheth-hagoyim unto 
the brook Kishon. 

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up ! for this is 
the day on which the Lord hath given Sissera 
into thy hand; behold, the Lord is gone out be- 
fore thee: so Barak weot down from mount Tha- 
bor, with ten thousand men after him. 

And the Lord confounded Sissera, and all his 
chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the 
sword before Barak; and Sissera alighted from 
his chariot, and fled away on foot. 

And Barak pursued after the chariots, and after 
the army, unto Charosheth-hagoyim: and all the 
army of Sissera fell by the edge of the sword ; 
there was not left even one. 

But Sissera had fled away on foot to the tent of 
Ja'el the wife of Cheber the Kenite; for there was 
peace between Yabin the king of Chazor and the 
house of Cheber the Kenite. 

And Ja'el went out to meet Sissera, and eaid 
unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in unto me, fear 
not: and he turned in unto her into the tent, and 
she covered him with a blanket. 

And he said unto her, Give me to drink, I pray 
thee, a little water; for I am thirsty: and she 



Pearls from the Bible. 125 

opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, 
and covered him up. 

And he said unto her, Stand at the door of the 
tent; and it shall be, that, when any man should 
tome and ask of thee, and say, Is there any man 
here? thou shalt say, No. 

And Ja'el the wile of Cheber took thereupon 
the nail of the tent, and placed a hammer in her 
hand, and went softly unto him. and struck the 
nail into his temple, and it became fastened in 
the ground; but he was fast asleep and weary; so 
he died. 

And, behold, Barak came in pursuit of Sissera, 
and Ja'el came out to meet him, and said unto 
him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom 
thou art seeking: and he came to her, and behold, 
Sissera was lying dead, with the nail in his 
temple. 

So did God humble on that day Yabin the king 
of Cana'an before the children of Israel. 

And the hand of the children of Israel became 
constantly heavier upon Yabin the king of 
Cana'an, until they had destroyed Yabin the king 
of Cana'an. 

The welfare of the people largely depends upon 
the leaders they have. If they have great leaders, 
the results are great for general prosperity. If 
the leadership is poor, the results are poor and 
deplorable. 

Under the leadership of Joshua' the people of 
Israel prospered, because he was a great leader. 
Under the leadership of his immediate successors, 
the power of the Israelites declined until a woman, 
Deborah, arose as a prophetess and a heroic 



126 Pearls from the Bible. 

leader, who had the power to inspire the people 
to heroic acts. 

Deborah sent for Barak, who evidently was 
the general of the army, and who answered her : 
"If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if 
thou wilt not go with me, I will not go." 

By these words Barak declared himself a cow- 
ard. There are nowadays many Baraks who not 
only look to woman for leadership, but for their 
maintenance. The clothes they wear, the food 
they eat, and the roof that covers them is earned 
by woman, or provided by her relatives. Such a 
man is like Barak, a coward, and he should hide 
his head in shame! Let him resolve to be a 
Barak no longer, but let him go earnestly to work 
to honorably support himself, and those who have 
a natural claim on his assistance. Such a course 
is the course of noble manhood, appreciated and 
applauded by all fair minded persons. 

Then sang Deborah with Barak the son of 
Abino'am on that day, saying, 

When depravity had broken out in Israel, then 
did the people offer themselves willingly ; (there- 
fore) praise ye the Lord. 

Hear, O kings ; give ear, O princes ; I — unto 
the Lord will I sing ; I will sing praise to the 
Lord, the God of Israel. 

Lord, at thy going forth out of Se'ir, at thy 
marching along out of the field of Edom, the earth 
trembled, also the heavens dropped, also the 
clouds dropped water. 

The mountains melted away because of the 



Pearls from the Bible. 127 

presence of the Lord, yonder Sinai, because of the 
presence of the Lord, the G-od of Israel. 

In the days of Shamgar the son of 'Anath, in 
the days of Ja'el, the highways were unoccupied, 
and those who traveled on roads walked through 
crooked by-paths. 

Desolate were the open towns in Israel, they 
were desolate, until that I arose, Deborah, that I 
arose a mother in Israel. 

They chose new gods, then was there war in 
the gates: was there a shield seen or a spear 
among forty thousand in Israel? 

My heart (belongeth) to the governors of Israel, 
that offered themselves willingly among the peo- 
ple: praise ye the Lord. 

Ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judg- 
ment, and ye who walk on the way, utter praise! 

(Urged on) by the voice of those who divide 
(the flocks) between the watering wells, there 
shall they rehearse the benefits of the Lord, the 
benefits toward his open towns in Israel; (for) 
now go down (again) to the gates the people of 
the Lord. 

Awake, awake, Deborah ! awake, awake, utter 
a song! up, Barak, and lead away thy captives, 
son of 'Abino'am. 

Then obtained dominion a few that had es- 
caped for the nobles among the people — the Lord 
gave me dominion over the mighty. 

They whose root is out of Ephraim were against 
'Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, with thy armies ; 
out of Machir came down lawgivers, and out of 
Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. 

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; 
yea, Issachar, the support of Barak; into the val- 
ley he hastened down in his train; (but) at the 



128 Pearls from the Bible. 

streams of Reuben there were great thoughts of 
heart. 

Why didst thou sit among the sheepfolds to 
hear the bleatings of the flocks? At the streams 
of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 

G-il'ad abode beyond the Jordan; and Dan — 
why would he tarry in ships? Asher remained 
on the sea-shore, and abode near his bays. 

Zebulun is a people that jeoparded its life unto 
death, and Naphtali — on the high places of the 
(battle) field. 

There came kings, (and) fought, then fought 
the kings of Cana'an, in Tha'anach by the waters 
of Megiddo: gain of money they took not sway. 

From heaven they fought — the stars in their 
courses fought against Sissera. 

The stream of Kishon swept them away, that 
ancient stream, the stream of Kishon; step along, 
O my soul, in victorious strength. 

Then were crushed the hoofs of the horses, 
through the prancings, the prancings of their 
mighty ones. 

Curse ye Meroz, saith the messenger of the 
Lord, yea, curse ye bitterly its inhabitants; be- 
cause they came not to the help of the Lord, to 
the help of the Lord among the mighty. 

Blessed above (other) women shall be Ja'el the 
wife of Cheber the Kenite, above (other) women 
(dwelling) in the tent may she be blessed. 

Water he asked, milk she gave (him); in a 
lordly dish she brought him cream. 

Her hand she put forth to the nail, and her 
right hand to the laborious workman's hammer; 
and she hammered Sissera, she struck his head, 
and crushed and smote through his temple. 

Between her feet he bent, he fell, he lay; be- 



Pearls from the Bible. . 129 

tween her feet he bent, he fell : where he had 
bent, there he fell down, bereft of life. 

Out of the window looked and moaned the 
mother of Sissera, through the lattice, Why tar- 
rieth his chariot so long in coming? why lag the 
wheels of his chariot ? 

The wise among her ladies answered her, she 
also returned a reply to herself, 

Will they not find — divide booty? one maiden, 
two maidens for every man, a booty of coloured 
garments for Sissera, a booty of coloured em- 
broidered garments, coloured, double-worked gar- 
ments round the necks of the captives? 

Thus may perish all thy enemies, O Lord ; but 
may those that love him be as the rising of the 
sun in his might. And the land had rest forty 
years. 

The song of Deborah is triumphant, and she 
had a right to feel triumphant and to express her 
feelings. Through her leadership she restored 
the people of Israel to their independence. 

How applicable to many homes of our days are 
these words : 

"Desolate were the open towns in Israel, they 
were desolate until I arose, Deborah, that I arose 
a mother in Israel." 

Many a home and many communities owe their 
prosperity and happiness to the leadership of a 
sister, wife, or mother. Without their wisdom 
and consummate tact, the homes and places would 
be desolate and hopelessly forlorn. 

Every man who is worthy of that distinguished 



130 • Pearls from the Bible. 

title, should pay homage to such a sister, wife, or 
mother, for they are indeed the mothers in Israel. 

A mother in Israel is the noblest title that 
exists on earth. Before such a title the title of a 
duchess, a queen, or empress pales. 

Grod blesses the mothers in Israel, for they are 
a blessing wherever they are, and every where 
they are entitled and should receive venerable 
homage. 

And Samson went down to Thimnathah, and 
saw a woman in Thimnathah of the daughters of 
the Philistines. w 

And he went up, and told his father and his 
mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Thim- 
nathah of the daughters of the Philistines; and 
now take her to me for wife. 

Then said unto him his father and his mother, 
Is there not among the daughters of thy brethren, 
or among all my people, a woman, that thou art 
going to take a wife from the Philistines, the un- 
circumcised? And Samson said unto his father, 
This one take for me: for she pleaseth me well. 

But his father and his mother knew not that it 
was from the Lord, that he sought but an occa- 
sion against the Philistines; and at that time the 
Philistines had dominion over Israel. 

And Samson thus went down, with his father 
and his mother, to Thimnathah; and when they 
were come as far as the vineyards of Thimnathah, 
behold, a young lion came roaring toward him. 

And the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly over 
him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, 
and he had nothing in his hand; but he told not 
his father or his mother what he had done. 



Pearls from the Bible. 131 

And he went down, and spoke unto the woman ; 
and she pleased Samson well. 

And when he returned after a time to take her, 
he turned aside to seethe carcass of the lion : and, 
behold, there was a swarm of bees in the carcass 
of the lion and honey likewise. 

'And he took it out in his hands, and went on, 
eating as he was going, and came to his father 
and mother, and he gave unto them, and they did 
eat ; but he told them not that out of the carcass 
of the lion he had taken the honey. 

And his father went down unto the woman ; 
and Samson made there a feast; for so used the 
young men to do. 

And it came to pass, when they saw him, that 
they brought thirty companions, and they re- 
mained with him. 

And Samson said unto them, I will now pro- 
pound unto you a riddle : if ye can in anywise 
tell it me within the seven days of the feast, and 
find it out, then will I give you thirty shirts and 
thirty changes of garments; 

But if ye will not be able to tell it to me, then 
shall ye give me thirty shirts and thirty changes 
of garments. And they said unto him, Propound 
thy riddle, that we may hear it. 

And he said unto them, Out of the eater came 
forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweet- 
ness. And they could not solve the riddle in 
three days. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that 
they said unto Samson's wife, Persuade thy hus- 
band, that he may solve unto us the riddle, lest 
we burn thee and thy father's house with fire : 
have ye invited us to impoverish us? is it not so? 

And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, 
Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: that 



132 Pearls from the Bible. 

riddle hast thou propounded unto the children of 
my people, and me hast thou not told (the solu- 
tion). And he said unto her, Behold, I have not 
told it to my father and to my mother, and thee 
shall I tell it? 

And she wept before him the seven days, while 
their feast lasted ; and it came to pass on the 
seventh day, that he told her, because she had wor- 
ried him : and she told (the solution of) the riddle 
to the children of her people. 

Then said unto him the men of the city on the 
seventh day before the sun was yet gone down, 
What is sweeter than honey ? and what is stronger 
than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had 
not ploughed with my heifer, ye had not found 
out my riddle. 

And the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly over 
him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew of 
them thirty men, and he took their apparel, and 
gave the changes of garments unto the expounders 
of the riddle; but his anger was kindled, and he 
went up to his father's house. 

And Samson's wife was given to his companion 
who had been given him as his associate. 

There is a great lesson in the foregoing record 
of Samson selecting a daughter of the Philistines 
for a wife. How applicable are the remarks of 
his parents to this day in similar cases, when 
they said:, "Is there not among the daughters of 
thy brethren, or among all my people, a woman, 
that thou art going to take a wife from the Philis- 
tines, the uncircumcised?" 

And Samson said unto his father: "This one 
take for me; for she pleaseth me well." 



Pearls from the Bible. 133 

There are many young men nowadays who go 
out of their way greatly to select a wife, while 
they have women in their immediate neighbor- 
hood who would be a wife not only in name, but 
in fact ; a loving companion and a help-mate in 
the fullest sense of its meaning. 

Alas! the same young men make the same mis- 
take that Samson made: go far off to select a wife, 
and if the parents object they give about the same 
answer that Samson did, "This one take for me; 
for she pleaseth me well." What is the result? 
Even in their days of honeymoon, she deceived 
him by disclosing his riddle to her compan- 
ions, the companions of her childhood. And 
Samson, her husband, lost his wager, and he 
spoke unto them those ever memorable words: 
"If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye had 
not found out my riddle." 

Samson was naturally angry that his wife was 
false to his interest, and he left her, perceiving the 
mistake he made in selecting a stranger as his 
wife. Not being concentrated in his affections, he 
became the companion of a woman called Delilah. 
"And the lords of the Philistines came up unto 
her, and said unto her: 'Persuade him, and see 
wherein his great strength lieth, and by what 
means we may prevail over him, that we may 
bind him to subdue him; and we will give thee 
every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.' " 

Delilah, evidently being a woman of pleasure, 
had no other interest in the welfare of Samson 



134 Pearls from the Bible. 

than the money she could obtain from him or 
through him, and to such persons every means to 
obtain money is fair. She worried him daily 
with her words, and urged him to such an extent 
that his soul became impatient to die. He finally 
disclosed to her the secret of his great strength. 

"And she made him sleep upon her knees ; and 
she called a man, and caused him to shave off the 
seven locks of his head; and she began to subdue 
him, and his strength departed from him." 

"And she said, 'The Philistines are upon thee, 
Samson.' And he awoke out of his sleep, and 
thought I will go out as at other times before, and 
shake myself free. But he knew not that the 
Lord had departed from him." 

And the Philistines seized him, and put out his 
eyes, and he had to grind in the prison house. 

All the misfortunes that befell Samson could be 
clearly traced to the cause of his marriage. Had 
he followed the advice of his parents, and married 
a daughter of his own people, where the family 
was known for its good conduct and its genius 
for noble acts, Samson would have been happily 
mated, lived a virtuous life, and not fallen into 
the meshes of Delilah, who was ready and willing 
to sell his life to the Philistines. 

Let this lesson stand as a warning to young 
men, not to seek marriage with a daughter of 
strangers. Let them heed the advice of parents, 
who see not only the exterior of the maiden, but 
the spirit that is within her, and the record of her 



Pearls from the Bible. 135 

family. These are strong indications whether 
she is worthy to become the wife of their son, and 
be their daughter-in-law. 

The welfare of every man depends largely upon 
Avhat he eats, w T hat he drinks, and how much he 
eats and drinks, but above all whom he marries. 

The daughter of the Philistines, whom Samson 
married, wept for seven days in order to obtain 
the solution of his riddle. There are wives who 
weep for seven weeks before their husbands to 
obtain fine clothes, jewels, horses and carriages, 
to live in a palace, which the husband can not 
afford; but they worry him into it, and bring on 
his ruin in health and Avealth. Poor man, he is 
compelled to grind far beyond his strength, until 
death releases him from his burden and humiliat- 
ing oppression. 

Marriage makes or unmakes a man. Therefore 
we again say, be careful in your selection of a 
wife ; heed the advice of your parents, your sis- 
ters, and your brothers. They are the best 
friends you have; prove yourself worthy of their 
love by not disregarding their advice in such an 
important step. 

While we are on this important subject, mar- 
riage, it may not be amiss to say a few words to 
the daughters of our glorious country in regard 
to choosing a husband. In the first place, every 
woman should train herself properly for the im- 
portant position of a wife, and, with the grace of 
God, of becoming a mother. That proper train- 



136 Pearls from the Bible. 

ing begins with self-reliance, self-denial, and self- 
culture, and above all, to be a help in creating 
comforts to the family, instead of being a hin- 
drance thereto. 

To be beautiful is G-od's command; especially 
does it apply to women. It is therefore the duty 
of every daughter to appear to her best advan- 
tage at all times, but not at the expense of neg- 
lecting to adorn the intellect with the accumu- 
lated wisdom stored in books, which can be made 
her own if she devotedly tries. And she should 
also endeavor to refine her character with a mul- 
titude of good deeds. 

Let not all the thoughts and all the energies 
be used and devoted exclusively to the style of 
dress, and do not uninterruptedly watch the 
fashions and continually comment on them and 
speculate at all times which are the most becom- 
ing shades, and which width of the " fair and 
square" ribbons must be worn around the neck, 
the' waist, and for a sash, in order to show their 
brilliant luster and excellent quality advanta- 
geously ; also what jewels to wear — diamonds, sap- 
phires, or pearls. It is all right to consider care- 
fully the style of dress and note the fashions and 
the ornaments ; but to give these matters the 
entire time and attention is wrong. Any maiden 
who devotes her entire thoughts and occupation 
in ornamenting her body and neglecting her 
mind, neglecting to be a help to her mother or 
guardian in their household duties, can not rea- 



Pearls from the Bible. 137 

sonably expect to lead a happy wedded life. In 
order to secure such happiness, a wife must be a 
helpmate to her husband. He looks to her for 
home comforts. If the wife furnishes them read- 
ily and gracefully, it fans love to a living reality. 
In that case she is truly loved and adored by her 
husband. Eefreshed by her love and the com- 
forts of home-life, he goes forth with the spirit of 
a conqueror to achieve success in his calling, and 
in that achievement the wife's share is happi- 
ness. 

But if the wife is a helpless creature, she does 
not know how to tidy up a room ; how to cook 
and serve a meal, and how to utilize everything 
well and economically. And if to her every 
physical and mental exertion is a cruel hardship, 
she is not a help to her husband, but a hindrance 
to his success in life. The love that her attrac- 
tiveness aroused in him cools down, and if he is a 
gentleman by nature he will be polite to her, but 
not loving; not a caressing, loving husband. 

It is therefore of supreme importance that every 
daughter, whether her parents are rich or poor, 
should actively participate in the house work, 
especially in cooking savory food that cheers the 
inner man, and adds so much to the enjoyment of 
life. It is in human nature to love something 
good to eat. We have seen husbands who were 
grandfathers, men of large affairs, exclaim to a 
company of friends: "I would gladly give ten 
dollars for a loaf of bread that my mother baked." 



138 Pearls from the Bible. 

Another would say : " I would give twenty dollars 
for a pumpkin pie that my mother made; those 
were pies worth eating." These remarks indicate 
in what high esteem the well-prepared meals are 
held by sons. No doubt their mothers patched 
their clothes, darned their socks, and even helped 
them to master their lessons; but that was for- 
gotten. The good bread and the good pies that 
mother baked were remembered joyfully through- 
out life. 

For mercy's eake, we will say a few earnest 
words to those parents who aim to marry their 
daughters to the titled personages of Europe. 
They set their hearts that their daughters shall 
become a baroness, a countess, or a duchess, and 
spare no money nor humiliation to accomplish it. 
They dress their daughters in the costliest gar- 
ments, the highest style of fashion, travel abroad, 
and humble themselves in order to get an entry 
into the society of the nobility. Alas! many of 
them are only noble in name, and those who are 
only noble in name are ready, for a large money 
consideration, to wed the beautiful and accom- 
plished American maiden, who thus becomes the 
victim of vanity. She is married to a man who 
wedded not her, but her money; and after he has 
the money or the use of it, he treats his wife with 
either covered or open contempt. She lives like 
a prisoner in a castle, on which the mortgage has 
been paid by the funds that her parents furnished. 
Poor victim on the altar of vanity ! Although she 



Pearls from the Bible. 139 

bears the title of baroness, countess, or duchess, she 
pines away, not surrounded by devoted friends, 
but by schemers, who scheme how much more 
money they could press from her family ; and if 
the prospects are poor to obtain more, she is tor- 
mented in a manner which is happily unknown 
to the American people. The results are that 
the deluded victim for titles either dies an un- 
timely death, or appeals to the courts for divorce. 

The life not only of the daughter or daughters 
has been blighted, but also the life of their par- 
ents, who, by the marriage of the daughter to an 
unworthy and sapless nobleman, wrecked also 
their happiness. 

Let those parents who plot to marry their 
daughters to noblemen in order that they become 
titled, take a warning from this truthful sketch, 
and thereby save their daughter and themselves 
from an ocean of misery and heart-burning regret. 
It is a thousand times better, for their daughter's 
and their own happiness, to marry their daughter 
to young men ot their own country and manner 
of living, and use their wealth at home in the pro- 
motion of agriculture, commerce, or manufacture, 
giving employment to hundreds of people. They 
would thus also enjoy the great pleasure of nelping 
to bring up their grandchildren, teach them the 
great lesson to fear and to love God, to be patriotic, 
and to exert their wisdom for their country's good. 

If only one daughter and one son and one 
family has accepted the lessons depicted in this 



140 Pearls from the Bible. 

book regarding marriage, and acted accordingly, 
the author will feel himself amply remunerated 
for the work and expense required to produce 
the book. 

Now we will again refer to Samson, the son 
who did not listen to the words of his parents 
when selecting a wife. 

And the lords of the Philistines gathered them- 
selves together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon 
their god, and to rejoice; and they said, Our god 
hath delivered into our hand Samson our enemy. 

And when the people saw him, they praised their 
god; for they said, Our god hath delivered into 
our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our 
country, and him who hath slain so many of us. 

And it came to pass, when their heart was merry, 
that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make 
sport for us. And they called for Samson out of 
the prison-house; and he made sport before them; 
and they placed him between the pillars. 

And Samson said unto the lad that held him by 
the hand, Suffer me (to go) and let me feel the 
pillars whereupon the house is supported, that I 
may lean upon them. 

Sow the house was full of men and women; 
and there were all the lords of the Philistines; 
and upon the roof were about three thousand men 
and women, that looked on while Samson made 
sport. 

And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O 
Lord Eternal, remember me, I pray thee, and do 
thou strengthen me only this once, O God, that I 
may be avenged for one of my two eyes on the 
Philistines. 

And Samson threw his arms around the two 



Pearls from the Bible. 141 

middle pillars upon which the house was sup- 
ported, and he leaned on them, (on) one with his 
right hand, and (on) the other with his left. 

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philis- 
tines. And he bent (them) with might, and the 
house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people 
that were therein. So the dead whom he slew at 
his death were more than those whom he had 
slain in his life. 

Then came down his brothers and all the house 
of his father, and they took him up, and carried 
him up, and buried him between Zor'ah and Esh- 
thaol, in the burying-place of Manoach his father. 
And he had judged Israel twenty years. 

We have in the foregoing lines a scene of 
merriment by the people over the fallen, of whom 
they made sport, and the fallen calling on God 
for aid, to return to him his strength that he may 
be avenged for the loss of his eyes. 

It is the same nowadays. The conquerors are 
merry, and make sport of those whom they have 
conquered, and in their days of prosperity never 
think aught of G-od, and therefore never give 
thanks and adoration for the uncountable bless- 
ings that God in his loving kindness showers on 
them. As long as Samson had his health and 
strength, he led a life of unrestrained pleasure ; 
but when he became blind, and had to grind in 
prison, then he uttered this beautiful prayer: " O 
Lord Eternal, remember me, I pray thee, and 
do thou strenghten me this once, O G-od, that I 
may be avenged for one of my two eyes on the 
Philistines." 



142 Pearls from the Bible. 

After the catastrophe Samson caused by pull- 
ing the immense building down, killing thousands 
of the nobles — men, women, and children — the 
brothers of Samson were allowed to take their 
dead brother Samson to their own country and 
bury him near his fathers. This shows distinctly 
that the Philistines were highly civilized, and 
therefore less revengful. 

And there was a certain man of Pamathayim- 
zophim, of the mountain of Ephraim, whose name 
w r as Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of 
Elihu, the son of Thochu, the son of Znph, an 
Ephrathite. 

And he had two wives; the name of the one 
was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: 
and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no 
children. 

And this man went up out of his city from year 
to year to prostrate himself and to sacrifice unto 
the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And at that place 
were the two sons of 'Eli, Chophni and Phinehas, 
priests of the Lord. 

And when the day was come that Elkanah 
offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all 
her sons and her daughters, portions; 

But unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for 
Hannah he loved (greatly) ; but the Lord had 
shut up her womb. 

And her rival also provoked her continually, in 
order to make her fret; because the Lord had 
shut up her womb. 

And as he did so year by year, as often as she 
went up to the house of the Lord, so did she pro- 
voke her; wherefore she wept, and did not eat. 

Then said to her Elkanah her husband, Han- 



Pearls from the Bible. 143 

nah, why wilt thou weep? and why wilt thou not 
eat? and why should thy heart be grieved? am 
not I better to thee than ten sons? 

And Hannah rose up after they had eaten in 
Shiloh, and after they had drunk; and 'Eli the 
priest was sitting upon a chair by the door-post 
of the temple of the Lord. 

But she had bitterness of soul, and prayed unto 
the Lord, and wept greatly. 

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of 
hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of 
thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget 
thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid 
a man-child: then will I give him unto the Lord 
all the days of his life, and no razor shall come 
upon his head. 

And it came to pass, as she continued praying 
long before the Lord, that 'Eli watched her mouth. 

Now as for Hannah, she spoke in her heart; 
only her lips moved, but her voice could not be 
heard; wherefore 'Eli regarded her as a drunken 
woman. 

And 'Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be 
drunken? put away thy wine from off thee. 

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, 
I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit; but neither 
wine nor strong drink have I drunk, and I have 
poured out my soul before the Lord. 

Esteem not thy handmaid as a worthless woman ; 
for out of the abundance of my grief and vexation 
have I spoken hitherto. 

Then 'Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and 
may the God of Israel grant thy petition which 
thou hast asked of him. 

And she said, Let thy handmaid find grace in thy 
eyes. The woman then went on her way, and did 
eat, and her countenance was no longer as before. 



144 Pearls from the Bible. 

And they rose up early in the morning, and 
prostrated themselves beiore the Lord, and re- 
turned, and came to their house at Ramah; and 
Eikanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord 
remembered her. 

And it came to pass, after a lapse of some time, 
that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she 
called his name Samuel [Shemuel], saying, Be- 
cause from the Lord have I asked him. 

And : the man Eikanah went up, with all his 
house, to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, 
and his vow. 

But Hannah did not go up; for she said unto 
her husband, So soon as the child shall be weaned, 
then I will bring him, that he may appear before 
the Lord, and abide there for ever. 

And Eikanah her husband said unto her, Do 
what seemeth good in thy eyes; tarry until thou 
hast weaned him; only may the Lord fulfil his 
word. So the woman remained behind, and gave 
her son suck until she weaned him. 

And she took him up with her, when she had 
weaned him, with three bullocks, and one ephah 
of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she brought 
him unto the house of the Lord atShiloh; al- 
though the child was yet young. 

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child 
to 'Eli. 

And she said, Pardon, my lord, as thy soul 
liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by 
thee here, to pray unto the Lord. 

For this lad did I pray; and the Lord hath 
granted me my petition which I asked of him. 

Therefore also have I lent him, for my part, to 
the Lord ; all the days that have been assigned to 
him shall he be lent to the Lord. And he bowed 
himself there before the Lord. 



Pearls from the Bible. 145 

Of the many scenes recorded in the Bible 
worthy to be put on canvas by a masterful artist, 
none is so pathetic and of such deep importance 
to mankind as the scene of Hannah praying from 
the innermost recesses of her heart in the Temple 
at Shiloh. 

Hannah did not pray that God should make 
her the most beautiful woman in the world ; that 
He should bless her with wealth to enable her to 
dress in the costliest garments, wear the most 
precious jewels, and be waited on by a troop of 
servants, and everybody bow themselves before 
her as the greatest and most important personage 
in the land. 

Hannah did not pray for self-aggrandizement. 
Hannah prayed intensely to God to bless her to 
become a mother of a man-child, and she vowed 
a vow that she would give him unto the Lord all 
the days of his life. 

Such a prayer as Hannah prayed, and such a 
vow as Hannah made, every wife throughout our 
broad land should pray and vow. But, alas ! 
there are thousands of wives nowadays in this 
our blessed country who hope and pray not to 
become mothers, and who do almost everything 
to prevent it, and that they are successful in their 
wickedness and abhorrent sin is clearly demon- 
strated by the statistics. The statistics show that 
forty years ago there were in New England on 
the average six children born to the family, while 
now there are scarcely two children to the family. 



146 Pearls from the Bible. 

The consequence of this prevention is that there 
is less happiness in wedded life, less prosperity, 
and less morality of a high order, less love for 
family ties, less love of God and country; and 
therefore more of that demoralizing spirit pre- 
vails which is fitly expressed in the words " I 
don't care." That prevailing spirit, "I don't 
care," fills our courts witn divorce cases, our jails, 
our penitentiaries, and our insane asylums to 
overflowing, and makes our homes and highways 
unsafe on account of the increase of tramps, 
thieves, and reckless robbers. "I don't care'' 
also shows that in the United States more money 
is yearly spent for liquors, beer, and wines than is 
spent for bread and religious instruction. 

The statistics on the expenditure for drinks are 
truly appalling. The statistics from July 1, 1893, to 
June 30, 1894, show that we distilled last year 87,- 
346,884 gallons of liquor, not including 1,430,353 
gallons of brandy, making in all 88,777,187 gal- 
lons of alcoholic spirits. Expert bartenders esti- 
mate 63 drinks to the gallon. Therefore, there 
were 5,604,062,891 drinks produced in this coun- 
try. A conservative estimate of how much was 
imbibed across counters is about 37,000,000 gal- 
lons of whisky, brandy, and other distilled spirits, 
or in other words we drank 6,090,000,000 glasses 
of whisky, for which we paid over the bar $609,- 
000,000, or $5,000,000 more than all the annual 
appropriations of Congress combined. This rep- 
resents a consumption of 100 glasses of whisky 



Pharls from the Bible. 147 

each year for every man, woman, and child be- 
tween the rock-bound Pacific and the storm- 
tossed Atlantic, or, counting only the male adults, 
500 glasses per year each. 

Of beer the figures are equally astounding. The 
consumption was 31,962,943 barrels; that is, 12,- 
785,169,200 glasses, representing an expenditure 
for this mode of Teutonic hilarity of $617,258,460, 
or about ten dollars for each inhabitant. In the 
neighborhood of 220 glasses are charged up in 
this calculation against each of us as our annual 
allowance ; therefore, if we do not average our 
daily glass, we may be sure that our neighbors 
are getting the benefit of our abstinence. 

What causes this excessive drinking of spirits? 
It is either disappointment that gnaws at the 
very heart strings, or want of responsibility. 
The one who is disappointed wants to drown 
his sorrows in drink, and the other, having 
no children, therefore less responsibility, spends 
his time and money in drinking and carous- 
ing. What a different man he would be if he 
had at home a few bouncing sons and a few 
darling daughters ! Not a penny would he 
spend for drinks ; all his earnings and all his 
time would be devoted to his wife and children. 
The spirit of " I don't care" would find no lodg- 
ment in his nature. He would have somebody to 
love and to live for ; it is his good wife, who does 
not object to have children, who is a helpmate to 
him, his joy and his comfort ; and his children 



148 Pearls from the Bible. 

are his pride and his hope. For their sake he 
cares what he does ; he is determined to set a 
good example to his hoys, and he wants his 
daughters to have reason to be proud of their 
father, and he acts accordingly. 

Children are to a family what mortar and nails 
are to a building. With their use the building 
of the house is a possibility, and when built will 
weather the storms if kept in good order ; other- 
wise it will fall into ruin, and be carted away out 
of sight. 

The happiness and the maintenance of the 
family can only be attained through children. A 
home without children resembles a well without 
water, a tree without leaves, a vineyard without 
grapes, an earth without sunlight. It feels in- 
hospitable and dreary. Life has been chilled; 
the heart beats coldly and feels sad for the want 
of love that renovates itself every minute in the 
presence of children who are bone of our bone 
and flesh of our flesh, blended with the same 
loving, hopeful spirit that animates our being. 

It is detrimental to the country that the people 
of New England are dying out, for the people of 
New England vastly helped to make the United 
States a righteous country. It is a pity that they 
should have fallen into the great error of the 
Romans — to be heirs and not to leave heirs, and 
the result was that they became unnerved, and 
declined in population and power, which made it 



Pearls from the Bible. 149 

possible for the barbarians to conquer their 
country. 

The result in New England is, that it is peac- 
ably settled mostly by the French Canadians, who 
have not the intellectual capacity ot the New 
England people, but possess the virtue not to 
tamper with nature. The sin of preventing 
child-birth is not tolerated by them, and G-od 
blesses them with his choicest blessings — health, 
love, happy homes in which they see themselves 
reproduced handsomer, wiser, and better. To 
their offspring the land, the honor, and the emu- 
lations will belong. This will be their reward 
for having observed the commandment, " Be 
fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and sub^ 
due it." 

Those who have not observed that command- 
ment to be fruitful and multiply, who preferred 
to multiply dollars instead of children, have been 
swept away from the top of the earth, and even 
their wealth, like their country, has passed into 
the hands of strangers. 

The prevention of being fruitful and multiply- 
ing children has the most disastrous effect upon 
the health of women, morality, the family ties, 
commerce, capital, and labor ; and even the sta- 
bility of the Republic itself is threatened by that 
ein which cries before God and man. 

It is absolutely necessary for the legislators in 
most of the States to appoint special committees. 



150 Pearls from the Bible. 

with power to call the doctors and other witnesses 
before them to testify, under oath, the real cause 
of the appalling decline of the birth of children. 
Having ascertained the causes, let them enact 
laws to punish those severely for the great crime 
of which they are guilty, and may none escape. 
Any doctor, on conviction of being a party 
thereto, should not only be sent to the State 
prison for a long term of years, but should be for 
all time barred from practicing his profession, 
which requires him to save life and not to kill. 
Having killed the innocent, he forfeits thereby 
his right to be a member of a noble profession. 

Every lover of humanity, and every patriot of 
the Republic, should extend a helping hand to 
carry out the law that will throttle this great sin 
and stamp it out. The courts, the pulpit orators, 
and the press must be a unit to banish, now and 
forever, this dark crime from our fair land. 

Hannah demonstrated the nobleness of her 
nature by keeping her vow, and consecrated her 
son to the service of the Lord, and she has, for all 
times, the honor of being the mother of Samuel, 
"the great" prophet, the upright judge, whose 
history is the pride of mankind. The exultations 
of Hannah resound even to this day in the hearts 
of those who appreciate the grateful feelings of a 
pious and happy mother. Eead and study her 
utterances of thankfulness. How truthful they 
are ! 



Pearls from the Bible. 151 

And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart is glad 
in the Lord, my horn is exalted through the Lord : 
my mouth is enlarged over my enemies ; because 
I rejoice in thy salvation. 

There is none holy like the Lord ; for there is 
none beside thee; and there is not any rock like 
our God. 

Talk no more so exceedingly proudly; let not 
-arrogance come out of your mouth ; for a God of 
knowledge is the Lord, and by him are actions 
weighed. 

The bow of the mighty is broken, and those 
that stumbled are girded with strength. 

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive : he bring- 
eth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 

The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich: he 
bringeth low, and also lifteth up. 

He raiseth up out of the dust the poor, from 
the dunghill he lifteth up the needy, to set them 
among nobles, and he assigneth them the throne 
of glory; for the Lord's are the pillars of the 
earth, on which he hath set the world. 

He ever guardeth the feet of his pious ones, 
and the wicked shall be made silent in dark- 
ness; for not by strength can man prevail. 

The history of the world records the fact that 
the greatest men gracing the annals of man's 
noble achievement were sons of the poor and 
lowly. How truthful is Hannah's exclamation, 
" From the dunghill he lifted up the needy, to 
set them among nobles, and he assigneth them 
the throne of glory." Have we not witnessed it 
in our day to see Abraham Lincoln and James A. 
Garfield, born in log cabins, surrounded by abject 



152 Pearls from the Bible. 

poverty and hardships, reaching the highest 
honors in the gift of a noble people, who felt 
proud to honor them with their sovereignty, and 
they proved themselves worthy of the distin- 
guished honor so spontaneously showered upon 
them. 

Be hopeful, ye mothers who struggle for a bare 
existence. Tour wealth and your glory are your 
children ; give them your undivided attention ; 
instill in them the love of justice, the love of woik, 
the love to study in their hours of recreation ; 
awake in them noble thoughts, noble aims, and 
your work will become rewarded by seeing them 
in the front rank of noble achievement. 

And the lad Samuel was ministering unto the 
Lord before 'Eli. And the word of the Lord was 
scarce in those days: prophecy was not extended. 

And it came to pass one day, when 'Eli was 
lying down in his place, and his eyes had begun 
to grow dim, he could not see; 

And the lamp of God had not yet gone out, 
while Samuel was lying down in (the hall of) the 
temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was; 

That the Lord called Samuel : and he said, Here 
am I. 

And he ran unto 'Eli, and said, Here am I; for 
thou didst call me. And he said, I did not call: 
lie down again. And he went and lay down. 

And the Lord continued to call again, Samuel. 
And Samuel arose and went to 'Eli, and said, 
Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he an- 
swered, I did not call, my son: lie down again. 

And Samuel knew not yet the Lord, nor had 



Pearls from the Bible. 153 

the word of the Lord been as yet revealed unto 
him. 

And the Lord continued to call, Samuel, the 
third time ; and he arose and went to 'Eli, and 
said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And 
'Eli then perceived that the Lord was calling the 
lad. 

And 'Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down; and 
it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, 
Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. And Sam- 
uel went and lay down in his place. 

And the Lord came, and placed himself, and 
called as at previous times, Samuel, Samuel. And 
Samuel said, Speak ; for thy servant heareth. 

And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do 
a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every 
one that heareth it shall tingle. 

On that day will I fulfill on 'Eli all that I have 
spoken concerning his house: I will begin and 
finish. 

And I tell him that I will judge his house for 
ever; for the iniquity that he knew that his sons 
were drawing a curse on themselves, and he re- 
strained them not. 

And therefore have I sworn unto the house of 
'Eli, that the iniquity of 'Eli's house shall not be 
atoned for with sacrifice or meat-offering for 
ever. 

And Samuel lay until the morning, when he 
opened the doors of the house of the Lord ; and 
Samuel feared to tell the vision unto 'Eli. 

But 'Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my 
son. A.nd he said, Here am I. 

And he said, What is the word which be hath 
spoken unto thee? do not, I pray thee, conceal it 
from me: may G-od do to thee thus, and continue 



154 Pearls from the Bible. 

to do so, if thou conceal any thing from me of all 
the word that he hath spoken unto thee. 

And Samuel told him all the words, and con- 
cealed nothing from him. And he said, He is the 
Lord: let him do what seemeth good in his eyes, 

And Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with 
him, and he did not let fall any one of all his 
words to the ground. 

And thus knew all Israel, from Dan even to 
Beer-sheba' that Samuel was accredited as a pro- 
phet of the Lord. 

And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh; 
for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shi- 
loh by the word of the Lord. 

There is nothing that saddens the heart of a 
father and distresses a mother so deeply as the 
ill behavior of their sons or daughters. The sons 
of the priest Eli behaved most shamefully. They 
disgraced their high office, and the day of punish- 
ment dawned not only on them, but also on their 
father, who failed in his fatherly duty to restrain 
them. 

It is a father'b solemn duty to reason with his 
son, in order to restrain him from evil deeds ; and 
if the son does not heed his father's words, he 
deserves to be punished severely and swiftly. 
Give the young tree the right bend that it may 
grow straight, or it will grow crooked as long as 
it has a healthy root in the bosom of the earth. 

And the word of Samuel became known to all 
Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philis- 



Pearls from the Bible. 155 

tines to battle, and encamped beside Eben-ha'ezer; 
and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 

And the Philistines put themselves in battle- 
array against Israel; and the battle became gen- 
eral, and Israel was smitten before the Philistines : 
and they slew on the battle-ground, in the field, 
about four thousand men. 

And when the people were come back into the 
camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath 
the Lord smitten us this day before the Philis- 
tines? Let us bring over to us out of Shiloh the 
ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come 
in the midst of us, and deliver us out of the hand 
of our enemies. 

So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought 
away from there the ark of the covenant of the 
Lord of hosts, who dwelleth over the cherubim: 
and the two sons of 'Eli, Chophni and Phinehas, 
were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 

And it happened when the ark of the covenant 
of the Lord came into the camp, that all Israel 
set up a great shout, so that the earth trembled. 

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the 
shouting, they said, What meaneth the noise of 
this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews? 
And they understood that the ark of the Lord 
was come into the camp. 

And the Philistines were afraid; for they said, 
God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe 
unto us! for the like of this hath not been, yester- 
day or the day before. 

Wo unto us! who shall deliver us out of the 
hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods 
that smote the Egyptians with every plague in 
the wilderness. 

Be strong, and act like men, O Philistines, so 
that ye become not servants unto the Hebrews, 



156 Pearls from the Bible. 

as they have been servants to you : therefore act 
like men, and fight. 

And the Philistines fought, and the Israelites 
were smitten, and they fled every man unto his 
tent: and the defeat was very great; and there 
fell of Israel thirty thousand men on foot. 

And the ark of God was taken: and the two 
sons of 'Eli, Chophni and Phinehas, died also. 

And there ran a man of Benjamin from the 
battle-field, and came to Shiloh on the same day, 
with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head. 

And when he came, lo, 'Eli was sitting upon a 
chair by the wayside, watching; for his heart was 
anxious for the ark of God. And when the man 
came to tell it in the city, all the city cried out. 

And when 'Eli heard the noise of the crying, 
he said, What meaneth the noise of this multi- 
tude ? And the man came in hastily, and told it 
to 'Eli. 

Now 'Eli was ninety and eight years old: and 
his eyes were fixed, so that he could not see. 

And the man said unto 'Eli, I am the person 
that came from the battle-field, and I myself fled 
from the battle-field to-day. And he said, What 
was it that took place, my son? 

And the messenger answered and said, Israel 
is fled before the Philistines, and there hath also 
been a great slaughter among the people, and also 
thy two sons, Chophni and Phinehas, are dead, 
and the ark of God hath been taken. 

And it came to pass, when he mentioned the 
ark of God, that he fell from off the chair back- 
ward by the side of the gate, and his neck was 
broken, and he died; for the man was old, and 
heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 

And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, 
was with child, near to be delivered; and when 



Pearls from the Bible. 157 

she heard the tidings concerning that the ark of 
God had been taken, and that her father-in-law 
and her husband were dead, she sank down and 
gave birth; for her pains came suddenly upon 
her. 

And at the moment of her dying, the women 
that stood around her spoke (unto her), Fear not; 
ior a son hast thou born. But she answered not, 
nor did she take it to heart. 

And she named the child I-chabod, saying, 
Glory is departed from Israel; because of the 
taking away of the ark of God, and because of 
her father-in-law and her husband: 

And she said, Glory is departed from Israel; 
for the ark of God hath been taken away. 

The foregoing paragraphs give us an illustra- 
tion that those who do not depend on themselves 
for success are likely to meet with defeat. The 
Israelites lost about four thousand men in the 
battle. Their elders sent for the ark of the cove- 
nant of the Lord of hosts, which for an inspira- 
tion to the timid might have been helpful in mus- 
tering courage; but they evidently neglected pru- 
dence and good generalship. It was not prudent 
for the army to give such a shout, when the ark 
arrived, that the earth trembled, which attracted 
the attention of the Philistines, in whom the 
shout aroused fear. This girded them with cour- 
age to go into the battle, and they succeeded to kill 
thirty thousand men on foot and capture the ark. 

If the Israelites had relied, on winning the battle, 
less on the ark and more on their strategy, intrepid 
valor, and endurance, they would not have met 



158 Pearls from the Bible. 

the defeat they did. It is the same now with 
many individuals, who hope for success by lean- 
ing on others, instead of relying on themselves. 
They neglect to act prudently, neglect to perform 
their duties faithfully. A farmer neglects to plow 
his field deeply and in the right season, neglects 
to plant the right seeds, neglects to manure his 
fields, neglects to attend to his cattle properly, 
neglects to take good care of his implements, and 
expects by long and very loud praying to have 
good crops, and a nice herd of fat cattle. Such a 
farmer will meet with defeat like the Israelites 
did, who depended too much for victory on the 
presence of the ark. The same can be said of 
a lawyer who neglects to read law carefully and 
store his mind with knowledge, or of a doctor 
who does not study earnestly cause and effects, or 
the merchant who is everywhere except in his 
store attending carefully to his business, or the 
mechanic who has not his mind on the work in 
hand, and then blames somebody else because his 
work does not turn out right. It is the same 
with a wife and mother who gives only the leav- 
ings of her mind to her household duties and her 
children, and the balance of her mind to fashion 
and gossip. Such a home and children are neg- 
lected, and they cannot justly expect home hap- 
piness and success in life. 

Moral : Trust in God for help, but rely on your- 
self; give not the leavings of your mind to the 
performance of your duties, but your whole mind ; 



Pearls from the Bible. 159 

your undivided attention to the work in band, 
and G-od will then bless your handiwork, because 
you deserve it. 

And the men of Kiryath-ye'arim came, and 
fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it 
unto the house of Abinadab on the hill, and El'- 
azar his son they sanctified to guard the ark of 
the Lord. 

And it came to pass, from the time the ark re- 
mained in Kiryath-ye'arim, and the time was 
long, and it was twenty years: that all the house 
of Israel followed anxiously after the Lord. 

And Samuel said unto all the house of Israel, 
as followeth, If with ail your heart ye do return 
unto the Lord, then put away the gods of the 
stranger and the 'Ashtharoth from your midst, 
and direct your heart unto the Lord, and serve 
him alone: and then will he deliver you out of 
the hand of the Philistines. 

Then did the children of Israel put away the 
Be'alim and the 'Ashtharoth, and served the Lord 
alone. 

And Samuel said, Assemble all Israel together 
at Mizpah, and I will pray in your behalf unto 
the Lord. 

And they assembled themselves together at 
Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before 
the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, 
We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel 
judged the children of Israel in Mizpah. 

And when the Philistines heard that the chil- 
dren of Israel had assembled themselves at Mizpah, 
the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. 
And when the children of Israel heard it, they 
were afraid of the Philistines. 



160 Pearls from the Bible. 

And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Do 
not abstain, so as not to cry for us unto the Lord 
our God, that he may help us out of the hand of 
the Philistines. 

And Samuel took one sucking lamb, and of- 
fered it for an entire burnt-offering unto the Lord : 
and Samuel cried unto the Lord in behalf of 
Israel; and the Lord answered him. 

And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offer- 
ing, the Philistines drew near to battle against 
Israel ; but the Lord thundered with a loud noise 
on that day over the Philistines, and brought them 
into confusion, and they were smitten before 
Israel. 

And the men of Israel went out of Mizpab, and 
pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far 
as below Beth-car. 

And Samuel took one stone, and set it between 
Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Eben- 
ha'ezer, [Stone of help.] saying, As far as this 
hath the Lord helped us. 

So were the Philistines humbled, and they came 
no more into the territory of Israel ; and the hand 
of the Lord was against the Philistines all the 
days of Samuel. 

And the cities which the Philistines had taken 
from Israel came again to Israel, from 'Ekron 
even unto Gath, and their territory did Israel de- 
liver out of the hand of the Philistines. And 
there was peace between Israel and the Emorites. 

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 

And he went from year to year and traveled 
in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and 
judged Israel in all these places. 

And his return was to Eamah ; for there was 
his house; and there he judged Israel: and he 
built there an altar unto the Lord. 



Pearls from the Bible. 161 

It is an undeniable fact that a man who is pure 
in thought and action, in all the relations of life, 
inspires confidence among his fellow-men, and es- 
pecially is this the case if such a man is wise, dis- 
creet, and courageous. This was the character of 
the Prophet Samuel. That he prayed to God in 
the presence of his people, and in their behalf, in- 
spired them with confidence, and girded them 
with courage. They marched forth into the 
battlefield with the spirit of conquerors, and suc- 
ceeded in defeating the Philistines. They then 
regained their former territory and became a 
powerful nation again. They lived in peace, and 
cultivated not only their land, but also their spir- 
itual being, which is the most valuable in man's 
existence. 

To the Prophet Samuel belongs the imperishable 
honor of having inaugurated the system of trav- 
eling in circuit and judging the people, which the 
United States have wisely copied and practice to 
this day. 

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, 
that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 

And the name of his first-born was Yoel; and 
the name of his second Abiyah : they judged in 
Beer-sheba'. 

But his sons walked not in his ways, and they 
inclined after their own advantage, and took 
bribes, and perverted justice. 

Then did all the elders of Israel assemble them- 
selves together, and came to Samuel unto Kamah, 



162 Pearls from the Bible. 

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and 
thy sons have not walked in thy -ways: now ap- 
point for us a kingto judge us like all the nations. 

But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of 
Samuel, when they said, G-ive us a king to judge 
us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto 
the voice of the people in all that they may say 
unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, bnt 
me have they rejected, that I should not reign 
over them. 

In accordance with all the deeds which they 
have done since the day that I brought them up 
out of Egypt even until this day, when they for- 
sook me, and served other gods : so do they also 
unto thee. 

And now hearken unto their voice; neverthe- 
less thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and 
tell them the manner of the king that will reign 
over them. 

And Samuel said all the words of the Lord 
unto the people that had asked of him a king. 

And he said, This will be the manner of the 
king that will reign over you: i r our sons will he 
take, and appoint them for himself with his char- 
iots, and among his horsemen; and they will 
have to run before his chariot; 

And to appoint for himself captains over thou- 
sands, and captains over fifties; and to plough his 
ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his 
instruments of war, and the instruments of his 
chariots. 

And your daughters will he take for ointment 
makers, and for cooks, and for bakers. 

And your fields, and your vineyards, and your 
olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, and give 
them to his servants. 



Pearls from the Bible. 163 

And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will 
he take the tenth, and give (the same) to his of- 
ficers, and to his servants. 

And your men-servants, and your maid-ser- 
vants, and your best young men, and your asses 
will he take, and employ (them) for his work. 

Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye 
yourselves will become his servants. 

And ye will cry out on that day because of 
your king whom ye will have chosen for your- 
selves; but the Lord will not answer you on that 
day. 

Nevertheless the people refused to listen to the 
voice of Samuel; and they said, JS"o; but a king 
shall be over us; 

That we also may ourselves be like all the 
nations; and that our king may judge us, and go 
out before us, and fight our battles. 

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, 
and he spoke them before the ears of the Lord. 

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto 
their voice, and appoint them a king. And Sam- 
uel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man 
unto his city. 

Every loyal friend of the Republic should read 
and re-read the above lines what Samuel said to 
the children of Israel, on that ever memorable oc- 
casion when they demanded a king. Note care- 
fully these words, which we repeat in order to im- 
press them more vividly on the mind of the noble 
reader. "And he said, This will be the manner of 
the king that will reign over you: Your sons will 
he take, and appoint them for himself with his 



164 Pearls from the Bible. 

chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will 
have to run before his chariot; 

"And to appoint for himself captains over thou- 
sands, and captains over fifties: and to plough his 
ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his 
instruments of war, and the instruments of his 
chariots. And your men-servants, and your best 
young men, and your asses will he take, and em- 
ploy them for his work; of your flocks will he 
take the tenth : and ye yourselves will become 
his servants." 

How truly prophetic were these words, and they 
are borne out to this very day. For thousands 
of years have almost all the nations groaned 
under the oppressive yoke of their kings. The 
monarch's ruling absorbs the earnings of the 
masses, which causes them to live in the most ab- 
ject poverty. They are deprived of the aid of 
their sons to help to cultivate the fields, or to help 
in the shop or counting-room; and these sons are 
compelled to serve their best years as soldiers of 
the king. Israel was punished for not having 
listened to the wise advice of the- Prophet Sam- 
uel. They insisted upon having a king appointed 
for them, and Samuel yielded to their demands. 

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name 
was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the 
son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiach, the son of 
a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 

And he had a son whose name was Satil [Sha- 
lml], young and handsome ; and there was not a 



Pearls from the Bible. 165 

man among the children of Israel handsomer 
than he : from his shoulders and upward he was 
taller than any of the peoj^le, 

And there were lost the asses belonging to 
Kish, Saul's father; and Kish said to Sai.il his son, 
Do take with thee one of the servants, and arise, 
go seek the asses. 

And he passed through the mountain of Eph- 
raim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, 
but they found (them) not; then they passed 
through the land of Sha'alim, and there was 
nothing there; and he passed through the land 
of Benjamin, but they found them not. 

When they were come in the land of Zuph, 
Saiil said to his servant that was with him, Come, 
and let us return ; lest my father relinquish the 
care for the asses, and become anxious for us. 

And the other said unto him, Behold now, a 
man of God is in this city, and the man is hon- 
ored; all that he ever saith will surely come to 
pass: now let us go thither; perhaps he can tell 
us our way that we should go. 

Then said Satil to his servant, But, behold, if 
we should go, what shall we bring to the man? 
for the bread is spent out of our vessels, and there 
is not a present to bring to the man of God: what 
have we with us? 

And the servant answered Saiil again, and said, 
Behold, I have here in my hand the fourth part 
of a shekel of silver; and I will give this to the 
man of God, that he may tell us our way. 

In former times it was custom in Israel, that 
when a man went to inquire of God, he said thus, 
Come, and let us go as far as the seer; for the 
Prophet of the present day was in former times 
called a Seer. 

Then said Saiil to his servant, Thy word is 



166 Pearls from the Bible. 

• 

good : come, let us go. So they went unto the 
city where the man of God was. 

As they went up the ascent to the city, they 
found some maidens going out to draw water; 
and they said unto them, Is the seer here? 

And they answered them, and said, He is; 
behold, he is before you: make haste now, for this 
day came he to the city; because the people have 
a sacrifice to-day on the high-place; 

As soon as ye are come into the city, ye will 
straightway find him, before yet he can go up to 
the high-place to eat ; for the people will not eat 
until he be come, because he always blesseth the 
sacrifice; afterward eat those that are invited; 
and now go you up; for just to-day will ye surely 
find him. 

And they went up into the city. They were 
entering into the city, when, behold, Samuel came 
out toward them, to go up to the high -place. 

And the Lord had revealed to Samuel's ear one 
day before Saul's coming, saying, 

About this time to-morrow will I send unto 
thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou 
shalt anoint him as chief over my people Israel, 
that he may save my people out of the hand of 
the Philistines; for I have beheld my people, be- 
cause their cry is come unto me. 

And when Samuel saw Saiil,the Lord addressed 
him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to thee, 
This one shall rule over my people. 

And Saiil drew near to Samuel within the gate, 
and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where is the house 
of the seer? 

And Samuel answered Saiil and said, I am the 
seer: go up before me unto the high -place, and ye 
shall eat with me to-day; and I will let thee go 



Pearls from the Bible. 167 

in the morning, and all that is in thy heart will I 
tell thee. 

And as for thy asses that were lost unto thee 
this day three days ago, do not set thy heart on 
them ; for they have been found. And to whom 
belongeth all that is desirable in Israel? Is it 
not to thee and to all thy father's house? 

And Satil answered and said, Am not I a son 
of Benjamin, of one of the smallest tribes of 
Israel? and (is not) my family the least of all 
the families of the tribes of Benjamin? Where- 
fore, then, hast thou spoken to me such a thing? 

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and 
brought them into the apartment; and he as- 
signed them a place at the head of the invited 
guests, who were about thirty persons. 

And Samuel said unto the cook, Hand here the 
portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto 
thee, Put it away by thee. 

And the cook took up the shoulder and that 
which was on it, and set it before Satil; and he 
said, Behold what is left! set it before thee, and 
eat; for unto this time hath it been kept for thee, 
since I said, I have invited the people. And Satil 
ate with Samuel on that day. 

And they went down from the high -place into 
the city, and he spoke with Satil upon the roof. 

And they got up early ; and it came to pass, 
when the morning-dawn arose, that Samuel called 
Satil to the roof, saying, Up, that I may send thee 
away. And Satil arose, and they went out, both 
of them, he and Samuel, into the street. 

As they were going down to the end of the 
city, Samuel said to Satil, Say to the servant that 
he pass on before us — and he passed on — but thou 
remain standing awhile, and I will let thee hear 
the word of God. 



168 Pearls from the Bible 

There is a sreat amount of sarcasm in the act 
of the Prophet Samuel by anointing Satil [Shahtil] 
as king over Israel. Satil by occupation was a 
herdsman, who sought the asses that went astray. 
That Satil was not much thought of by his fellow- 
men, is clearly shown by the general exclamation, 
" What is this that hath happened to the son of 
Kish ? is Satil also among the prophets ? 

And all the people went to G-ilgal ; and they 
appointed there Satil as king before the Lord in 
G-ilgal ; and they sacrificed there sacrifices of 
peace-offerings before the Lord ; and Satil with 
all the men of Israel rejoiced there very greatly. 
Or, in other words, they had there a great ban- 
quet. Such peace-offering — a banquet — is nowa- 
days very popular, and there is nothing so effect- 
ive in cementing good feelings and kindling last- 
ing friendships as the festive board. All join in 
that with a relish, especially if the feast is graced 
by a flow of marvelous eloquence that charms the 
hearers into ecstasy. 

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have 
hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto 
me, and I have set a king over you. 

And now, behold, the king is walking before 
you; and I am old and gray-headed; and my 
sons, behold, they are with you; and I have 
walked before you from my youth even until this 
day. 

Behold, here am I ; testify against me in the 
presence of the Lord, and in the presence of his 
anointed : Whose ox have I taken ? or whose ass 



Pearls from the Bible. 169 

have I taken ? or whom have I defrauded ? whom 
have I oppressed? or from whose hand have I re- 
ceived any ransom so that I withdrew my eyes 
from him? and I will restore it you. 

And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor 
hast thou oppressed us, and thou hast not taken 
from any man's hand the least. 

And he said unto them, The Lord is witness 
against you, and his anointed is witness this day, 
that ye have not found in my hand the least : and 
they answered, He is witness. 

And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord 
who did (wonders through) Moses and Aaron, and 
who brought your fathers up out of the land of 
Egypt. 

And now stand up, that I may hold judgment 
with you before the Lord concerning all the bene- 
fits of the Lord, which he hath done to you and 
to your fathers. 

When Jacob was come into Egypt, then did 
your fathers cry unto the Lord, and the Lord sent 
Moses and Aaron, and they brought forth your 
fathers out of Egypt, and caused them to dwell 
in this place. 

And when they forgot the Lord their G-od, he 
sold them into the hand of Sissera, the chief of 
the host of Chazor, and into the hand of the 
Philistines, and into the hand of the king of 
Moab, and they made war against them. 

And they cried (then) unto the Lord, and said, 
We have sinned, because we have forsaken the 
Lord, and have served the Be'alim and the Ash- 
tharoth ; and now deliver us out of the hand of 
our enemies, and we will serve thee. 

And the Lord sent Yerub-ba'al. and Bedan, 
and Yiphthach, and Samuel, and he delivered you 



170 Pearls from the Bible. 

out of the hand of your enemies on every side, Bo- 
th at ye dwelt safely. 

But when ye saw that Nachash the king of the 
children of 'Amnion came against you, ye said 
unto me, No ; but a king shall reign over us, 
when the Lord your God is your king. 

And now here is the king whom ye have 
chosen, whom ye have asked for ! and, behold, 
the Lord hath set over you a king. 

If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and 
obey his voice, and will not rebel against the will 
of the Lord : then shall both ye and also the king 
that reigneth over you continue following the 
Lord your God. 

But if ye will not hearken to the voice of the 
Lord, and rebel against the will of the Lord : then 
will the hand of the Lord be against you, as it 
was against your fathers. 

Also now stand up and see this great thing, 
which the Lord is about doing before your eyes. 

Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I will call unto 
the Lord, and he will send thunders and rain ; 
and ye will (thus) perceive and see that your 
wickedness is great, which ye have done, in the 
eyes of the Lord, to ask for yourselves a king. 

And Samuel called unto the Lord ; and the 
Lord sent thunders and rain on that day: and 
all the people feared greatly the Lord and Sam- 
uel. 

And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray in 
behalf of thy servants unto the Lord thy God, 
that we may not die; for we have added unto all 
our sins yet this evil, to ask for ourselves a king. 

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not; ye 
have indeed done ail this evil: yet turn not aside 
from following the Lord, and serve ye the Lord 
with all your heart; 



Pearls from the Bible. 171 

And turn ye not aside; for then would ye go 
after vain things, which cannot profit nor de- 
liver; because they are vain. 

For the Lord will not forsake his people for 
the sake of his great name; because it hath 
pleased the Lord to make you a people unto him- 
self. 

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I 
should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray in 
behalf of 3'ou ; but I will teach you the good and 
the right way: 

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth 
with all your heart; for see what great things he 
hath done with you. 

But if ye will in any wise do wickedly, both ye 
yourselves as also your king shall perish. 

The farewell speech of the Prophet Samuel is 
manly. It is the language of an upright Judge. 
His words deserve to be chiseled on a marble 
tablet in letters of gold, and placed before the 
seat of the Judge in every court of justice and 
in every legislative hall throughout the United 
States: 

" Testify against me in the presence of the 
Lord : Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass 

HAVE I TAKEN? OR WHOM HAVE I DEFRAUDED? 
OR FROM WHOSE HAND HAVE I RECEIVED ANY 
RANSOM SO THAT I WITHDREW MY EYES FROM 
HIM?" 

Alas ! there are evidences that there are Judges 
and legislators in the United States nowadays that 
could not conscientiously speak such words as the 



172 Pearls from the Bible. 

Prophet Samuel spoke when he retired from his 
great office. We frequently read in the press that 
acts are passed by legislators which enable monop- 
olists to charge exorbitant prices for their wares or 
accommodations which they furnish to the people. 
These excessive charges are not for a period of a 
year, but embrace the term of many years. Such 
acts would not have been enacted were it not for 
the fact that the votes of the legislators have 
been purchased like a horse at public auction. 
That money and other influences have been freely 
used to pass such laws is known to all, and still 
no one is punished. The press has been muzzled ; 
it growls for the sake of show, and covertly as- 
sists that the great corruption should be allowed 
to go into oblivion. 

It is sad that such a gross wrong should happen 
to an enlightened people, who possess the power 
of electing their own legislators; but the saddest 
sight of all is to see a poor man defrauded of his 
rights when he comes before the Judge, with the 
law and overwhelming evidence in his favor. 
Nevertheless, the Judge decides against him, 
without even giving good reasons for the opinion 
rendered. The whole proceedings have a Water- 
loo look — the look that the Judge has been seen 
before the trial began. The lawyers who repre- 
sent the wealthy litigants know before hand what 
the Judge's decision will be, and under such cir- 
cumstances the trial of the case, including the 
eloquence of the lawyers, is a farce. After all 



Pearls from the Bible. 173 

the witnesses have been examined, and alltheevi- 
dence is thoroughly made clear as day, by the 
lawyers representing the poor litigant, the Judge, 
with all the dignity that he can command, an- 
nounces that he will take the case under considera- 
tion. Months pass before the decision is made; 
and when made it makes the rich richer, and the 
poor poorer. 

It is this corrupt legislation and these corrupt 
decisions that breed anarchy. It is a fearful de- 
moralization, as it undermines law and order. 
The American people are a law-abiding people to 
the highest degree, but when their law makers 
and their law executors become corrupt, there is 
set before them the bad example of becoming 
law-breakers. 

Woe to that country where laws are enacted to 
benefit a few at the expense of the many; and 
especially where the many consist of the toilers 
of the land, who live from hand to mouth, and 
who can poorly spare the money from their wages 
to pay the exorbitant charges which they are 
compelled to pay wherever they turn. 

Woe to that country where law ceases to be of 
any value, where only the wealthy can win a case. 

Woe to that community where the standard of 
social distinction is wealth. Under such condi- 
tions money becomes the idol ! Grod and law be- 
come obsolete ; corruption, terrorism, and univer- 
sal depravity take their place. Ruin to all will 
be the natural result, and the outcome of it will 



174 Pearls from the Bible. 

be a ruler with the sword, with whom might will 
be right. 

To avert such calamities it is the most solemn 
duty of every American citizen to see to it that 
honest men are elected as legislators, and that 
honest, able, and honorable men are elected or 
appointed as judges. Not only elect or appoint 
such honorable men to £>ublic trusts, but also 
watch their acts. If their acts bear evidence of 
corruption, bring them to trial. If they are 
found guilty, punish them to the fullest extent of 
the law. This can only be accomplished through 
the love of our country, through the reverence of 
our noble institutions, through the holy feelings 
for our homes, each of which is presided over by 
the queen of queens — our mother or wife, the care- 
ful guides of our children, who are our hope and the 
hope of our country. Every citizen should be ani- 
mated with such ennobling thoughts and be a 
patriot, not only in name, but in fact, and ex- 
ercise vigilance now and forever. 

"Vigilance I alert vigilance!" should be the 
motto of every American citizen ; vigilance over 
law makers, law interpreters, and the executors 
of the Laws. Alert vigilance is the price of lib- 
erty. Without alert vigilance our liberties will 
be lost. 

When Saiil had reigned one year, — and two 
years he reigned over Israel, — 

Saiil chose for himself three thousand men out 
of Israel ; and there were with Saiil two thousand 



Pearls from the Bible. 175 

in Michmash and on the mountain of Beth-el, and 
a thousand were with Jonathan [Yehonathan] in 
Gib'ah of Benjamin ; and the rest of the people 
he sent away every man to his tents. 

And Jonathan smote the outpost of the Philis- 
tines that was at G-eba', and the Philistines heard 
of it. And Sai.il blew the cornet throughout all 
the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear of it. 

And all Israel heard it, saying, Saul hath smit- 
ten the outpost of the Philistines, and the Israel- 
ites also have put themselves in ill favor with the 
Philistines. And the people were called together 
after Saiil to Gil gal. 

And the Philistines gathered themselves to- 
gether to fight with Israel, thirty thousand char- 
iots and six thousand horsemen, and people as 
the sand which is on the seashore in multitude; 
and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, 
eastward from Beth-even. 

And when the men of Israel saw that they 
were in a strait (for the people were oppressed), 
then did the people hide themselves in caves, and 
in thickets, and in rocks, and in strongholds, and 
in pits. 

And some of the Hebrews passed over the Jor- 
dan to the land of Gad and Gil'ad. As for Saiil 
he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed 
him hastily. 

And he tarried seven days, according to the set 
time that samuel had appointed ; but Samuel 
came not to Gilgal; and the people were scatter- 
ing themselves from him. 

And Saiil said, Bring hither to me the burnt- 
offering and the peace-offerings. And he offered 
the burnt-offering. 

And it came to pass, that, as soon as he had 
made an end of offering the burnt-offering, be- 



176 Pearls from the Bible. 

hold, Samuel came ; and Saiil went out to meet 
kirn, that he might greet him. 

And Samuel said. What hast thou done? And 
Saiil said. Because I saw that the people were 
scattering themselves from me, whereas, thou 
earnest not at the appointed day, and the Philis- 
tines are gathering themselves together at Mich- 
mash ; 

And I said, The Philistines will now come down 
unto me to Grilgal, and I have not yet made sup- 
plication unto the Lord: wherefore I forced my- 
self, and offered the burnt-offering. 

And Samuel said to Saiil, Thou hast done fool- 
ishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of 
the Lord thy God. which he hath commanded 
thee; for now would the Lord have established 
thy government over Israel for ever. 

But now thy government shall not endure: the 
Lord hath sought out for himself a man after his 
own heart, and the Lord hath ordained him to 
be chief over his people; because thou hast not 
kept what the Lord had commanded thee. 

And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal 
unto G-ib'ah of Benjamin. And Saiil numbered 
the people that were to be found with him, about 
six hundred men. 

And Saiil, and Jonathan his son, and the people 
that were to be found with him, were lying in 
Greba' of Benjamin; but the Philistines were en- 
camped in Michmash. 

And the troop of freebooters went out of the 
camp of the Philistines in three companies : one 
company turned into the way to 'Ophrah, unto 
the land of Shu'al: 

And another company turned into the way to 
Bethchoron; and the other company turned into 



Pearls from the Bible. 177 

the way to the frontier that looketh over the val- 
ley of Zebo'im toward the wilderness. 

Now there was no smith to be foand through- 
out all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, 
So that the Hebrews shall not make themselves 
swords or spears. 

But all the Israelites went down to the Philis- 
tines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, and 
his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 

And they used a file for the mattocks, and for 
the coulters, and for three-pronged forks, and for 
the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 

So it came to pass on the day of battle, that 
there was neither sword nor spear found in the 
hand of any of the people that were with Saul 
and Jonathan ; but they were found with Saul 
and with Jonathan his son. 

And the outpost of the Philistines went out to 
the pass of Mich mash. 

In the above lines we have a picture of the op- 
pressed condition of the Hebrews. They were 
not allowed to have smiths in their land, in order 
not to be able to make themselves swords or 
spears. Any country in which no weapons can 
be manufactured are indeed a conquered country. 

Now it happened one day, that Jonathan the 
son of Saul said unto the young man that bore 
his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Phil- 
istines' outpost, that is on the other side yonder. 
But unto his father he told nothing. 

And Saul tarried in the lower part of Grib'ah 
under the pomegranate-tree which is by Migron: 
and the people that were with him were about six 
hundred men. 



178 Pearls from the Bible. 

And Achiyah, the son of Achitub, the brother 
of I-chabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of 'Eli, 
the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wore the ephod. 
And the people knew not that Jonathan was 
gone. 

And between the passes, by which Jonathan 
sought to go over unto the outpost of the Philis- 
tines, there was a sharp point of rock on the one 
side, and a sharp point of rock on the other side: 
and the name of the one wasBozez, and the name 
of the other Seneh. 

The one point rose up abruptly northward op- 
posite Miehmash, and the other southward oppo- 
site G-eba'. 

And Jonathan said to the young man that bore 
his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the 
outpost of these uncircumcised: it may be that 
the Lord will work for us ; for there is no re- 
straint to the Lord to save by means of many or 
by means of few. 

And his armour-bearer said unto him, Do all 
that is in thy heart: turn thee; behold, I am 
with thee according to thy heart. 

Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass ever 
unto these men, and we will show ourselves unto 
them. 

If they say thus unto us, Stand still until we 
come to you; then will we remain standing in 
our places, and will not go up unto them. 

But if they say thus, Come up unto us : then 
will we go up; for the Lord hath delivered them 
into our hand; and this shall be unto us the sign. 

And when both of them showed themselves 
unto the outpost of the Philistines, the Philistines 
said, Behold, Hebrews are coming forth out ci the 
holes wherein they have hidden themselves. 

And the men of the outpost addressed Jona- 



Pearls from the Bible. 179 

than and his armour-bearer, and said, Come up 
to us, and we will let you know something. Then 
said Jonathan unto his armour-bearer, Come up 
after me; for the Lord hath given them up into 
the hand of Israel. 

And Jonathan then ascended upon his nands 
and upon his feet, and his armour-bearer after 
him: and they fell before Jonathan, and his ar- 
mour-bearer was killing after him. 

And that first defeat, which Jonathan and his 
armour-bearer caused, was about twenty men, 
within about the half of a field, which a yoke of 
oxen might plough. 

And there arose a terror in the camp, in the 
field, and among all the people ; the outposts, and 
the free- hooters, they also were terrified, and the 
earth quaked; and it became a very great terror. 

And the watchers of Saill in Gib'ah of Ben- 
jamin looked; and, behold, the multitude became 
scattered, and ran hither and thither. 

Then said Saiil unto the people that were with 
him, Muster now, and see who is gone away from 
us. And they mustered, and, behold, there was 
neither Jonathan nor his armour-bearer. 

And Saiil said unto Achiyah, Bring hither the 
ark of God; for the ark of God was on that day 
with the children of Israel. 

And it happened, while Saiil was speaking unto 
the priest, that the confusion which was in the 
camp of the Philistines went on and increased 
more and more : 

And Saiil said unto the priest, Withdraw thy 
hand. 

And Saiil and all the people that were with 
him were called together, and they came to the 
battle: and, behold, the sword of every man was 
against his fellow, the disorder being very great 



180 Pearls from the Bible. 

And the Hebrews that were with the Philis- 
tines as before that time, those namely who had 
gone up with them, were in the camp round about ; 
but these also resolved to be with the Israelites 
that were with Saiil and Jonathan. 

And all the men of Israel who had hidden 
themselves on the mountain of Ephraim, heard 
that the Philistines had fled; and they also fol- 
lowed hard after them in the battle. 

So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the 
battle passed over unto Beth-aven. 

And the men of Israel were hard urged that 
day; and Saiil adjured the people, saying, Cursed 
be the man that will eat food until the evening, 
until I have been avenged on my enemies. And 
the whole people tasted thus no food. 

And (the men of) all the land came to a forest; 
and there was honey upon the surface of the 
field. 

And when the people were come into the forest, 
behold, there was a stream of honey; but no one 
put his hand to his mouth ; for the people feared 
the oath. 

But Jonathan had not heard his father charg- 
ing the people with the oath ; he therefore put 
forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, 
and dipped it in a honey-comb, and carried his 
hand again to his moulh; and his eyes became 
clear. 

Then commenced one of the people, and said, 
Thy father strictly charged the people with an 
oath, saying, Cursed be the man that will eat food 
this day; though the people were faint. 

Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled 
the land : see, 1 pray you, how my eyes are be- 
come clear, because I have tasted a little of this 
honey. 



Pearls from the Bible. 181 

How much more, if haply the people had eaten 
freely this day of the spoil of their enemies which 
they found? tor would there not have been now a 
greater defeat among the Philistines? 

And they smote on that day among the Philis- 
tines from Miehmash to Ayalon ; and the people 
were very faint. And the people flew upon the 
spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and young steers, 
and slew them on the ground : and the people did 
eat upon the blood. 

And they told Satil, saying, Behold, the people 
are sinning against the Lord, in eating upon the 
blood. And he (then) said, Ye have acted treach- 
erously: roll (hither) unto me this day a great 
stone. 

And Satil said, Disperse yourselves among the 
people, and say unto them, BriDg near unto me 
every man his ox, and every man his lamb, and 
slaughter here, and eat; and sin not against the 
Lord in eating by the blood. And all the people 
brought near every man his ox by his hand that 
night, and slaughtered (them) there. 

And Satil built an altar unto the Lord: the 
same was the first altar that he built unto the 
Lord. 

And Saiil said, Let us go down after the Philis- 
tines by night, and spoil them until the morning- 
light, and let us not leave a man of them. And 
they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good in thy 
eyes. 

Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither 
unto God. 

And Satil asked counsel of G-od, Shall I go down 
after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them 
into the hand of Israel? But he answered him 
not on that day. 

And Saiil said, Draw ye near hither all the 



182 Pearls from the Bible. 

chief of the people: and know and see through 
what this sin hath happened this day. 

For, as the Lord liveth, who saveth Israel, that 
•if it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. 
But no one answered him among all the people. 

Then said he unto all Israel, Ye shall be on one 
side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the 
other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do 
what seemeth good in thy eyes. 

And Salil said unto the Lord, God of Israel, O, 
show forth the perfect truth. And Jonathan and 
Saiil were seized ; but the people same forth 
(free). 

And Saul said, Cast the lot between me and 
Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was seized. 

Then said Saul to Jonathan, Do tell me what 
thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, 
I did but taste with the end of the staff that was 
in my hand a little honey; lo, I am willing to 
die. 

And Saul said, May God do thus now, and in 
future also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan 
die, who hath wrought this great salvation in 
Israel? This shall not be; as the Lord liv th, 
there shall not fall one hair of his head to the 
ground; for with God hath he wrought this day. 
So the people rescued Jonathan, and he died 
not. 

Then went Saul up from following the Philis- 
tines; and the Philistines went to their own 
place. 

So Saul strengthened himself in the govern- 
ment ovor Israel ; and. he fought on every side 
against all his enemies, against Moab, and against 
the children of 'Amnion, and against Edom, and 
against the kings of Zobah, and against the Phil- 



Pearls from the Bible. 183 

istines: and whithersoever he turned himseif, he 
caused terror. 

And he gathered an army, and he smote the 
'Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands 
of those that spoiled them. 

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and 
Yishvi, and Malkishua': and the names of his two 
daughters — the name of the first-born was Merab, 
and the name of the younger Michal, 

And the name of Saul's wife was Achino'am, 
the daughter of Achima'az: and the name of tiie 
captain of his army was Abiner, the son of Ner, 
Saul's uncle. 

And Kish the father of Saul, and Ner the father 
of Abiner, were each the son of Abiel. 

And the war against the Philistines was violent 
all the days of Saul : and when Saul saw any 
strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto 
himself. 

Jonathan, the son of King Saul, was a brave 
soldier, but he inherited a large share of his 
father's superstition, and was governed by signs. 
This is the natural result of superstition or of 
men who have no confidence in God's grace and 
in themselves. 

King Saul ruled like a great many kings did 
aiter after him, and do even to this day — selfishly 
bordering on cruelty, ever ready to shed blood 
like a demented being. Samuel had no love for 
Saul ; he understood him and looked for his suc- 
cessor. 

And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long 
wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected 



184 Pearls from the Bible. 

him so as not to reign over Israel? fill thy horn 
with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth- 
lechemite; for I have selected among his sons 
unto myself a king. 

And Samuel said, How shall I go? if Saul should 
hear it, he would kill me. 

And the Lord said, Take a heifer with thee, and 
say, To sacrifice unto the Lord am I come. 

And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let 
thee know what thou shalt do; and thou shalt 
anoint unto me the one whom I will say unto 
thee. 

And Samuel did that which the Lord had 
spoken, and came to Beth-lechem. And the 
elders of the town came hastily to meet him, and 
said, Peace to thee at thy coming. 

And he said, Peace: to sacrifice unto the Lord 
am I come; sanctify yourselves, and come with 
me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and 
his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 

And it came to pass, when they came, that he 
saw Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is 
(here) before him. 

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Regard notkis 
appearance, nor the height of his stature; because 
I have rejected him; for not what man looketh 
on; — for man looketh on the eyes, but the Lord 
looketh on the heart. 

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and caused him 
to pass before Samuel. And he said, This one 
also hath the Lord not chosen. 

Then Jesse caused Shammah to pass by. And 
he said, This one also hath the Lord not chosen. 

And Jesse caused seven of his sons to pass be- 
fore Samuel: and Samuel said unto Jesse, The 
Lord hath not made choice of these. 

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are there no more 



Pearls from the Bible. 185 

young men? And he said, There is yet left be- 
hind the youngest, and, behold, he is feeding the 
flocks. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and 
fetch him ; for we will not sit down till he have 
come hither. 

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was 
ruddy, having withal handsome eyes, and being 
of a goodly appearance. 

And the Lord said. Arise, anoint him; for this 
is he. 

Then took Samuel the horn of oil, and anointed 
him from among his brothers; and the Spirit of 
the Lord came suddenly upon David from that 
day and forward. And Samuel then rose up, and 
and went to B,amah. 

And the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, 
and there troubled him an evil spiritfrom the Lord. 

And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, 
an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 

Let our Lord but say (the word), and thy ser- 
vants, now before thee, will seek out a man, who 
is skilful as a player on the harp; and it shall 
come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is 
upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, that 
thou mayest be well. 

And Saul said unto his servants, Select for me, 
I pray you, a man that can play well, and bring 
him to me. 

Then answered one of the servants, and said, 
Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-leche- 
mite, who is skilful as a player, and a mighty va- 
liant man, and a man of war, and intelligent in 
speech, and a person of a good form, and the Lord 
is with him. 

Thereupon Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and 
said, Send me David thy son, who is with the 
flocks. 



186 Pearls from the Bible. 

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a 
bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent tbem through 
David his son unto Saul. 

And David came to Saul, and stood before him ; 
and he loved him greatly, and he became his 
armour-bearer. 

And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I 
pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found 
favor in my eyes. 

And it came to pass, when the Spirit of God 
was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and 
played with his hand; so Saul became relieved, 
and he felt well, and the evil spirit departed from 
him. 

With the selection of David the son of Jesse 
as king, the era of glittering splendor for the peo- 
ple of Israel began. David is the most peculiar 
character in the Bible. He was a musician, a 
poet, a warrior, and a politician of a high order. 
He was a sinner, as also a devout believer in the 
mercy and grace of God. His career from the 
beginning is not only very interesting, but won- 
derful in achievements. For all time he will de- 
servedly be called the Eoyal Bard, the sweet 
singer in Irael. His psalms are among the 
greatest literary treasures in the world, because 
they comfort the oppressed, and bring hope to the 
sinking. 

We have heard his psalms sung most pathetically 
by sailors on the ocean ; by miners in the mine ; by 
farmers on the field, and by mechanics at the 
bench. The most favored of his psalms is the 



Pearls from the Bible. 187 

one which declares confidence in -God's graceful 
care and protection : 

The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; 

He leadeth me beside the still waters. 

He reviveth my soul ; 

He guide th me in the paths of righteousness for His 
name's sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
death. 

I will fear no evil ; for Thou art with me ; 

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine 
enemies. 

Thou hast annointed my head with oil ; my cup runneth 
over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days 
of my life ; 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

And the Philistines gathered together their 
camps to battle, and they gathered themselves 
together at Sochob, which belongeth to Judah ; 
and they encamped between Sochoh and 'Azekah, 
at Ephess-dammim. 

And Saul and the men of Israel gathered them- 
selves together, and encamped in the valley of 
Elah, and put themselves in battle-array oj>posite 
to the Philistines. 

And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the 
one side, and the Israelites stood on a mountain 
on the other side: and the valley was between 
them. 

And there went out the champion out of the 
camp of the Philistines, G-oliath of Gath was his 
name, whose height was six cubits and a span. 



188 Pearls from the Bible. 

And he bad a helmet of copper upon his head, 
and he was clothed with a scaly coat of mail; 
and the weight of the coat of mail was five thou- 
sand shekels of copper. 

And he had greaves of copper upon his legs, 
and a javelin of copper between his shoulders. 

And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's 
beam; and the blade of his spear (weighed) six 
hundred shekels of iron: and the shield-bearer 
was walking before him. 

And he stood and called unto the arrays of 
Israel, and said unto them, Why will ye come out 
to put yourselves in battle-array? Behold! I am 
the Philistine, and ye are servants to Saul ! select 
for yourselves one man, and let him come down 
to me: 

If he be able to fight with me, and he kill me, 
then will we be unto you as servants; but if I 
prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be 
unto us as servants, and ye shall serve us. 

And the Philistine said, I have defied the arrays 
of Israel this day; give me a man, and let us fight 
together. 

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of 
the Philistine, they were disheartened, and became 
greatly afraid. 

Now David was the son of that Ephrathite 
of Beth-lechem-judah, whose name was Jesse; 
and he had eight sons: and the man was old in 
the days of Saul, belonging to the persons (of 
high esteem). 

And the three eldest sons of Jesse were gone 
following Saul to the battle: and the names of his 
three sons that were gone to the battle were Eliab 
the first-born, and the next to him Abinadab, and 
the third Shammah. 



Pearls from the Bible. 189 

And David was the youngest : and the three 
eldest followed Saul. 

But David kept going and returning from Saul 
to feed his father's flocks at Beth-lechem. 

And the Philistine drew near morning and eve- 
ning, and presented himself forty days. 

And Jesse said unto David his son, Take, I pray 
thee, for thy brothers an ephah of this parched 
corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp 
to thy brothers ; 

And these ten cheeses shalt thou bring unto the 
captain of the thousand, and inquire of thy broth- 
ers how they fare, and take away their pledge. 

Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, 
were in the.valley of Elah, fighting with the Phil- 
istines. 

And David rose up early in the morning, and 
gave up the flocks to a keeper, and took, and went, 
as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the 
entrenchment, as the host was going forth in 
battle-array, and shouted the battle-cry. 

And the Israelites and the Philistines put them- 
selves in battle-array, army against army. 

And David left tho articles which he had on him 
in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran 
into the array, and came and asked of his brothers 
after their welfare. 

"And as he was speaking with them, behold, there 
came up the champion, Goliath the Philistine, by 
name, of Grath, out of the battle-arrays of the 
Philistines, and spoke in accordance with these 
same words: and David- heard it. 

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the 
man, fled from before him, and were greatly 
afraid. 

And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this 
man that is coming forth? for to defy Israel is he 



190 Pearls from the Bible. 

coming forth; and it shall be, that the man who 
killeth him, — him will the king enrich with great 
riches, and his daughter will he give him, and his 
father's house will he make free in Israel. 

And David said to the men that stood by him, 
thus, What shall be done to the man that may 
smite yon Philistine, and take away the reproach 
from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philis- 
tine, that he should defy the arrays of the living 
God? 

And the people spoke to him after this manner, 
saying, So shall it be done to the man that may 
smite him. 

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he 
was speaking unto the men; and Eliab's anger 
was kindled against David, and he said, Why 
didst thou come down hither? and with whom 
hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? 
I know thy presumption, and the wickedness of 
thy heart; for in order to see the battle art thou 
come down. 

And David said, What have I now done? It is 
nothing but a word. 

And he turned from him toward another, and 
spoke after the same manner: and tho people 
made him again a reply after the former manner. 

And the words which David had spoken were 
heard, and they told them in the presence of Saul, 
who sent for him. 

And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart 
fail because of him: thy servant will go and fight 
with this Philistine. 

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to 
go unto this Philistine to fight with him ; for thou 
art but a lad, and he (hath been) a man of war 
from his youth. 

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was 



Pearls from the Bible. 191 

feeding his father's flocks, and there came a lion 
and a bear, and bore off a lamb out of the drove; 
And I went out after him, and smote him, and 
delivered it out of his mouth : and when he rose 
up against me, I caught him by his beard, and 
smote him, and slew him. 

Both the lion and the bear did thy servant 
smite: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be- 
come as one of them ; because he hath defied the 
arrays of the living God. 

Moreover David said, The Lord who hath de- 
livered me out of the power of the lion and out 
of the power of the bear, will also surely deliver 
me out of the hand of this Philistine. 

And Saul said unto David, Go, and may the 
Lord be with thee. 

And Saul clothed David with his garments, and 
he put a helmet of copper upon his head; and he 
clothed him also with a coat of mail. 

And David girded his sword over his garments, 
and he essayed to go; for he had not tried it. 
And David said unto Saul, I cannot walk in these 
(things); for I have never tried it before. And 
David put them off from him. 

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose 
himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and 
put* them in the shepherd's pouch which he had, 
even in a scrip, with his sling in his hand ; and he 
approached the Philistine. 

And the Philistine went and drew nearer and 
nearer unto David; and the man that bore the 
shield went before him. 

And when the Philistine looked about, and saw 
David, he disdained him; for he was but a lad, 
and ruddy, with a fair appearance. 

And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a 



192 Pearls from the Bible. 

dog, that thou comest unto me with sticks? And 
the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 

And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, 
and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the 
heavens, and to the beasts of the field. 

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest 
unto me with a sword, and with a spear, and with 
a javelin; but I come to thee in the name of the 
Lord of hosts, the Grod of the arrays of Israel, 
that thou hast defied. 

This day will the Lord deliver thee into my 
hand; and I will smite thee, and remove thy head 
from thee: and I will give the carcasses of the 
army of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of 
the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth ; and 
all the earth shall know that there is a God for 
Israel. 

And all this assembly shall know that the Lord 
saveth not through sword and spear ; for the battle 
is the Lord's, and he will give you up into our 
hand. 

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, 
and went and drew nigh to meet David, that 
David hastened, and ran toward the battle-array 
to meet the Philistine. 

And David put his hand into the pouch, and 
took thence a stone, and slung it, and he struck 
the Philistine on his forehead, and the stone sunk 
into his forehead : and he fell upon his face to the 
ground. 

So David prevailed over the Philistine with the 
sling and with the stone, and smote the Philis- 
tine, and slew him ; but there was no sword in 
the hand of David. 

And David ran, and stood by the Philistine, 
and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, 
and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. 



Pearls from the Bible. 193 

And when the Philistines saw that their hero was 
dead, they fled. 

And then arose the men of Israel and of Judah, 
and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until 
thou comest to the valley, and to the gates of 
'Ekron. And the slain of the Philistines fell 
down by the way to Sha'arayim, even as far as 
Grath, and up to 'Ekron. 

And the children of Israel returned from hotly 
pursuing after the Philistines, and they spoiled 
their camps. 

And David took the head of the Philistine, and 
brought it to Jerusalem ; but his weapons he. 
placed in his tent. 

And when Saul saw David going forth against 
the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of 
the army, Abner, whose son is this lad ? And 
Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I know it 
not. 

And the king said, A@k thou whose son this 
youth is. 

And as David returned from smiting the Phil- 
istine, Abner took him, and brought him before 
Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 

And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, 
young man? And David answered, The son of 
thy servant Jesse the Beth-lechemite. 

Of the eight sons of Jesse, three were soldiers 
in the army, and the father's heart beat for their 
welfare. We see it in his command to David to 
take an epha of parched corn, ten loaves to his 
three brothers and ten cheeses unto the captain 
of the thousand. We have also a glimpse of the 
thrift of the family of Jesse in the words of 



194 Pearls from the Bible. 

Eliab, the oldest brother of David, who repri- 
manded David in anger, " Why didst thou come 
down hither? and with whom hast thou left the 
few sheep in the wilderness? " This upbraiding 
did not, however, prevent David from saying to 
Saul : " Both the lion and the bear did thy serv- 
ant smite, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall 
become as one of them, because he hath defied 
the arrays of the living god. And the left hand 
of David dispatched with lightning rapidity a 
stone into the brain of Goliath, who sank down 
a corpse. To cut off his head with his own 
ponderous sword was the work of a moment by 
David, and Goliath, the giant and the boaster, 
was no more. From that hour David became the 
hero, the idol of the army and the people of 
Israel. He became the son-in-law of King Saul, 
who became insanely jealous of David's popu- 
larity. To the remarkable friendship that sprang 
up between Jonathan and David his life was 
saved from the murderous intention of King 
Saul, whose character greatly resembled the char- 
acter of George III. of England. 

And he arose and departed; and Jonathan went 
into the city. 

And David came to Nob to Achimelech the 
priest; and Achimelech hastened trembling to 
meet David, and said unto him, Why art thou 
alone, and no man is with thee? 

And David said unto Achimelech the priest, 
The king commanded me a business, and said unto 



Pearls from the Bible. 195 

me, Let not any man know the least of the busi- 
ness concerning which I send thee, and which I 
have commanded thee. And the young men 
have I appointed to such and such a place. 

And now what hast thou on hand? put five 
loaves of bread into my hand, or what else can 
be found. 

And the priest answered David, and said, I 
have no common bread on hand, but there is hal- 
lowed bread ; if the young men have only with- 
held themselves from women. 

And David answered the priest, and said to 
him, To a certainty women have been denied 
us yesterday and the day before, when I went 
forth, and the vessels of the young men were 
holy ; and if this was the custom with unholy 
things, how much more will it remain this day 
holy in the vessels. 

So the priest gave him hallowed bread ; for 
there was no bread there except the show-bread, 
that was removed from before the Lord, so as to 
put down hot bread on the day when it was taken 
away. 

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was 
there on that day, detained before the Lord ; and 
his name was Doeg, the Edomite, the chief of the 
herdsmen that belonged to Saul. 

And David said unto Achimelech, Hast thou 
not also here at hand a spear or sword? for both 
my sword as also m}^ other weapons have I not 
brought with me, because *the king's business was 
urgent. 

And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the 
Philistine, whom thou didst slay in the valley of 
Elah, behold, it is here wrapped up in a cloth be- 
hind the ephod : if thou wilt take that for thy- 
self, take it; for there is no other save it here. 



196 Pearls from the Bible. 

And David said, There is none like that; give 
it to me. 

And David arose, and fled on that day from 
before Saul, and came to Achish the king of G-ath. 

And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is 
not this David the king of the land ? did they not 
of this man sing one to another in the dances, 
saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David 
his ten thousands? 

And David took these words to his heart, and 
was greatly afraid of Achish the king of Grath. 

And he disguised his reason before their eyes, 
and played the madman in their hands, and scrib- 
bled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle 
run down upon his beard. 

Then said Achish unto his servants. Lo. } e see, 
the man is mad : wherefore then will ye bring 
him to me? 

Have I lack of madmen, that ye have brought 
this man to play his pranks about me? shall this 
one come into my house? 



David was of quick comprehension and prompt 
action. These are the two great requisites of a 
great general. Seeing that his life was in danger, 
he successfully played the madman. 

The answer that Achish the king of Grath 
made, could well be applied to many courts of 
Europe. 

"Then," said Achish unto his servants. '• Lo, 
ye see the man is mad : wherefore then will ye 
bring him to me? Have I lack of madmen, that 
ye have brought this man to play his pranks 
about me? Shall this one come into my house?" 



Pearls from the Bible. 197 

And David departed thence, and escaped to the 
cave 'Adullam : and when his brothers and all his 
father's house heard it, they went down to him 
thither. 

And there gathered themselves unto him every 
one that was in distress, and every one that had 
a creditor, and every one that had an embittered 
spirit; and he became a captain over them: and 
there were with him about four hundred men. 

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: 
and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father 
and my mother, I pray thee, go forth with you, 
until I can know what God will do for me. 

And he conducted them to the presence of the 
king of Moab: and they remained with him all 
the time that David was in the strong-hold. 

And the prophet Gad said unto David, Thou 
must not remain in the strong-hold: depart, and 
get thee into the land of Judah. Then David 
departed, and came into the forest of Chereth. 

And Saul heard that David was discovered, and 
the men that were with him, (now Saul was sit- 
ting in Gib'ah under the tamarisk on the hill, 
with his spear in his hand, and all his servants 
were standing about him;) 

Then said Saul unto his servants that stood 
about him, Hear, I'pray you, men of Benjamin! 
will the son of Jesse give, indeed, to every one of 
you fields and vineyards? will he appoint you all 
captains over thousands, and captains of hun- 
dreds? 

That ye have conspired, all of you, againt me, 
and there is none that inlormeth me, while my 
son hath made a covenant with the son of Jesse, 
and there is none of you that is concerned forme, 
or inform eth me that my son hath stirred up my 



198 Pearls from the Bible. 

servant to lie in wait against me, as it is this 
day? 

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set 
over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son 
of Jesse coming to ]STob, to Achimelech the son of 
Achitub. 

And he asked counsel for him of the Lord, and 
he gave him provision, and gave him also the 
sword of Goliath the Philistine. 

Then sent the king to call Achimelech, the son 
of Achitub, the priest, and all his father's house, 
the priests that were in Nob: and they came, all 
of them, to the king. 

And Saul said. Hear now, thou son of Achitub. 
And he said, Here am I, my Lord. 

And Saul said unto him, Why have ye con- 
spired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in 
that thou didst give him bread, and a sword, and 
hast asked counsel for him of (xod, that he should 
rise to lie in wait against me, as it is this day? 
Then answered Achimelech the king, and said, 
And who is among all thy servants so trusted as 
David, and the king's son-in-law, and freely ad- 
mitted to thy private council, and is honored in 
thy house? 

Did I this day then begin to ask counsel for him 
of G-od? far be it from me; let not the king im- 
pute any thing unto his servant, (nor) to all the 
house of my father; for thy servant knew not of 
all this, either a little or great thing. 

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Achi- 
melech, thou, and all thy lather's house. 

And the king said unto the runners that stood 
about him, Turn round and slay the priests of the 
Lord; because their hand also is with David, and 
because they knew that he was fleeing, and ^[^ 
not disclose it to me. But the servants of 



Pearls from the Bible. 199 

king would not stretch forth their hand to fall 
upon the priests of the Lord. 

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou round, 
and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edo- 
raite turned round, and he fell upon the priests, 
and slew on that day eighty and five persons that 
did wear a linen ephod. 

And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with 
the edge of the sword, both men and women, 
children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and 
lambs, with the edge of the sword. 

And there escaped one of the sons of Achime- 
lech the son of Achitub, whose name was Ebya- 
thar, and he fled after David. 

And Ebyathar told David that Saul had slain 
the priests of the Lord. 

And David said unto Ebyathar, I knew on that 
day, because Doeg the Edomite was there, that he 
would surely tell Saul: I have myself occasioned 
the death of all the persons of thy father's house. 

Remain thou with me, fear nothing; for he 
that will seek my life will seek thy life; but thou, 
shalt be well guarded with me. 

The parents of David were compelled to flee 
from the wrath of Saul, and their son wisely 
placed them under the protection of the King of 
Moab. He himself became the captain of about 
four hundred men who were embittered in spirit, 
and who made their quarters in the forest of 
Chereth. 

King Saul felt mortified that his innocent vic- 
tim escaped, and he acted like kings generally 
do, namely, to kill those who gave the slightest 
comfort to him whom the king hates. Saul was 



200 Pearls from the Bible. 

quick to give the command to slay the priests, 
and Doeg the Edomite executed the command 
with dispatch. Even in this nineteenth century 
there are plenty of Doegs and Edomites to shed 
innocent blood at the command of a foolish king. 

And David went up from there, and abode in 
strong-holds of 'En-gedi. 

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned 
from pursuing the Philistines, that it was told to 
him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness 
of 'En-gedi. 

Then took Saul three thousand chosen men out 
of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men 
upon the rocks of the wild goats. 

And he came to the sheepfblds by the way, and 
there was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his 
feet: and David and his men were sitting in the 
lower end of the cave. 

And the men of David said unto him, Behold, 
this is the day of which the Lord hath said unto 
thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy 
hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem 
good in thy eyes. And David arose, and cut off 
the corner of the robe which Saul wore, unper- 
ceived. 

And it came to pass afterward, that David's 
heart smote him, because he had cut offthe corner 
of Saul's (robe). 

And he said unto his men, Far be it from me 
for the Lord's sake, that I should do this thing 
unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch 
forth my hand against him; because he is the 
anointed of the Lord. 

So David restrained his servants with these 
words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. 



Pearls from the Bible. 201 

But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his 
way. 

David also arose afterward, and went forth out 
of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, My 
lord, the king! And Saul then looked behind 
him, and David bowed his face to the earth, and 
prostrated himself 

And David said to Saul, ^Therefore wilt thou 
listen to men's words, saying, Behold, David 
seeketh thy injury ? 

Behold, this day thy eyes have seen how that 
the Lord had delivered thee to-day into my hand 
in the cave, and some one said that I should kill 
thee ; but my soul felt compassion for thee ; and 
I said, I will not stretch forth my hand against 
my lord: because he is the anointed of the Lord. 
And now, my father, see, yea, seethe corner of 
thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the 
corner of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou 
and see that there is neither evil nor transgression 
in my hand, and that I have not sinned against 
thee : yet thou liest in wait for my soul to take it. 
May the Lord judge between me and thee, and 
may the Lord avenge me on thee ; but my hand 
shall not be against thee. 

As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the 
wicked proceedeth wickedness; but my hand shall 
shall not be against thee. 

After whom is the king of Israel gone out? 
after whom art thou pursuing? after a dead dog, 
after a single flea. 

May the Lord therefore be judge, and decide 
between me and thee, and see, and plead my 
cause, and obtain me justice out of thy hand. 

And it came to pass, when David had finished 
speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is 



202 Pearls from the Bible. 

this thy voice, my son David ? And Saul lifted 
up his voice, and wept. 

And he said to David, Thou art more righteous 
than I; for thou hast done for me only what is 
good, whereas I Lave rewarded thee only with 
what is evil. 

And thou hast proved this day, that thou hast 
dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord 
had surrendered me into thy hand, thou didst not 
kill me. 

For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go 
away on a good road? so may the Lord reward 
thee with good for what thou hast done unto me 
this day. 

And now, behold, I know that thou wilt surely 
become king, and that the kingdom of Israel will 
stand firmly in thy hand. 

And now swear unto me by ihe Lord, that thou 
wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou 
wilt not destroy my name out of my father's 
house. 

And David swore unto Saul ; and Saul went to 
his house; but David and his men went up into 
the strong-hold. 

David was not only a brave man, but a man of 
great forbearance. He had it in his power to kill 
Saul, but he forebore doing so sinful an act, and 
in this forbearance David demonstrated his wis- 
dom. It is wise to forego an advantage, even if 
it be such an arch enemy as Saul proved himself 
to be. The heroism, the forbearance, and the 
forgiving spirit practiced by David in his career 
endeared him to the people of Israel, who, as a 
consequence, longed to make him king. 



Pearls from the Bible. 203 

And Samuel died; and all the Israelites as- 
sembled themselves together, and lamented for 
him, and buried him in his house at Pamah. And 
David arose, and went down to the wilderness of 
Paran. 

And there was a man in Ma'on, whose business 
was in Carmel; and the man was very great, and 
he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand 
goats: and he was, while ihey were shearing his 
sheep, at Carmel. 

Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the 
name of his wife Abigayil: and the woman was 
of good understanding, and of a beautiful form; 
but the man was hard-hearted and evil in his 
deeds; and he was of the house of Caleb. 

And David heard in the wilderness that JSTabal 
was shearing his sheep. 

And David sent out ten young men, and David 
said unto the young men, G-et you up to Carmel, 
and go to Nabal, and ask him in my name after 
his well-being. 

And ye shall say, May it thus be throughout 
thy life ; and peace be to thee, and peace be to thy 
house, and unto all that thou hast be peace. 

And now have I heard that thou hast sheep- 
shearers: now thy shepherds have been with us, 
and' we have not injured them, neither hath there 
aught been missing unto them, all the time they 
were at Carmel. 

Ask thy young men, and they will tell it thee. 
Therefore let the young men find favor in thy 
eyes; for on a festive day are we come: give, I 
pray thee, whatsoever thy hand is capable of unto 
thy servants, and to thy son, to David. 

And David's young men came, and they spoke 
to Nabal in accordance with all these words in the 
name of David; and then they ceased. 



204 Pearls from the Bible. 

And Nabal answered the servants of David T 
and said, Who is David? and who is the son of 
Jesse? now-a-days there are many servants that 
break away every one from his master. 

Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and 
my flesh that I have killed for my sheep-shearers, 
and give it unto men, whom I know not whence 
they are ? 

And David's young men turned about on their 
way, and returned, and came and told him in ac- 
cordance with all these words. 

And David said unto his men, G-ird ye on, every 
man, his sword. And they girded on, every man, 
his sword; and David also girded on his sword: 
and there went up after David about four hun- 
dred men, and two hundred abode by the bag- 
gage. 

But one of the young men told Abigayil, 
Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messen- 
gers out of the wilderness to greet our master; 
but he hath spoken rudely to them. 

Whereas the men have been very good unto us; 
and we have not been injured, neither have we 
missed any thing, all the time that we went about 
with them, while we were in the field: 

A wall were they around us both by night and 
by day, all the time we were with them, feeding 
the flocks. 

And now know and consider what thou canst 
do ; for evil is determined on against our master, 
and against all his household ; and he is too greatly 
a worthless man for me to speak to him. 

And Abigayil made haste, and took two hun- 
dred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five 
sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched 
corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two 
hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. 



Pearls from the Bible. 205 

And she said unto her young men, Pass on be- 
fore me : behold, I come after you. But to her 
husband Nabal she told nothing. 

And it was so, as she was riding on the ass, and 
coming down by the covert of the mount, that, 
behold, David and his men came down toward 
her ; and she met them. 

Now David had sa^d, Yea, for naught only have 
I guarded all that belongeth to this fellow in the 
wilderness, so that not the least was missed of all 
that pertained unto him; and he hath requited 
me evil instead of good. 

So may G-od do unto the enemies of David, and 
do so yet farther, if I leave of all that pertaineth 
to him by the morning-light, as much as a dog. 

And when Abigayii saw David, she hastened, 
and alighted off the ass, and fell down before 
David on her face, and bowed herself to the 
ground. 

And she fell at his feet, and said. On me, me, 
my lord, is the fault: and let thy hand-maid, I 
pray thee, speak in thy hearing, and listen to the 
words of thy hand-maid. 

Let not my lord, I pray thee, turn his heart 
unto this worthless man, unto Nabal; for as his 
name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and mean- 
ness is with him ; but I thy hand-maid did not 
see the young men of my lord, whom thou didst 
send. 

And now, my lord, as the Eternal liveth, and 
as thy soul liveth, it is the Lord who hath with- 
holden thee from coming to blood-guiltiness, and 
from helping thyself with thy own hand; and 
now may like Nabal be thy enemies, and those 
that seek (to do) my lord evil. 

And now this present which thy hand-maid 
hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given 



206 Pearls from the Bible. 

unto the young men that follow in the train my 
lord. 

Pardon, I pray thee, the trespass of thy hand- 
maid ; for the Lord will certainly make for my 
lord an enduring house; because the battles of 
the Lord doth my lord fight, and evil will not be 
found in thee all thy days. 

And though a man is risen up to pursue thee, 
and to seek thy soul ; yet will the soul of my lord 
be bound in the bond of life with the Lord thy 
G-od; and the soul of thy enemies will he hurl 
away, as out of the middle of the sling. 

And it shall come to pass, when the Lord will 
do to my lord, in accordance with all the good 
that he hath spoken concerning thee, and will or- 
dain thee as ruler over Israel, 

That this shall not be unto thee as a cause of 
offence, and as a reproach of heart unto my lord, 
both by having shed blood without cause, and by 
my lord having righted himself: and when the 
Lord will do good unto my lord, then do thou re- 
member thy hand-maid. 

And David said to Abigayil, Blessed be the 
Lord, the G-od of Israel, who sent thee this day to 
meet me: 

And blessed be thy intelligence, and blessed be 
thou, who hast prevented me this day from com- 
ing unto blood-guiltiness, and from helping my- 
self with my own hand. 

But truly, as the Lord the G-od of Israel liveth, 
who hath withdrawn me from injuring thee, ex- 
cept thou hadst hastened and come to meet me, 
surely there would not have been left unto Nabal 
by the morning-light so much as a dog. 

And David took out of her hand that which 
she had brought him ; and unto her he said, Go 



Pearls from the Bible. 207 

up in peace to thy house : see, I have hearkened 
to thy voice, and have respected thy presence. 

And Abigayil came to Nabal; and, behold, he 
held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; 
and Kabul's heurt was merry within him, und he 
was exceedingly drunken ; wherefore she told him 
not a word, either little or great, until the morn- 
ing-light. 

But it happened in the morning, when the wine 
was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him 
these things; and his heart died within him, and 
he became as a stone. 

And it came to pass, in about ten days there- 
after, thut the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. 

And when David heard that Nabal was dead> 
he suid, Blessed be the Lord, who hath pleaded 
the cause of my reproach from the hand of JSTabal, 
and hath withheld his servant from evil; and the 
wickedness of Nabal hath the Lord returned upon 
his own head. And David sent and applied for 
Abigayil, to take her to himself for wife. 

And the servants of David came to Abigayil 
to Carmel, and they spoke unto her, saying, 
David hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to 
himself for wife. 

Thereupon she arose, and bowed herself with 
her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thy 
hand-maid be a servant to wash the feet of the 
servants of my lord. 

And Abigayil hastened, and arose, and rode 
upon an ass, with her five damsels that went in 
her train; and she went after the messengers of 
David, and she became his wife. 

David also took Achino'am of Yizre'el ; and 
both of them became thus his wives. 

But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's 



208 Pearls from the Bible. 

wife, to Palti, the son of Layish, who was of Gal- 
lim. 

Abigayil was a woman of quick comprehension. 
She saw at a glance that her husband made a 
great mistake in not complying with the request 
of the messengers from David, and hastened to 
rectify the mistake, which saved the life of her 
husband, her household, and their possessions. 
It is the same nowadays; frequently the wife 
rectifies the mistakes of her husband, and by her 
presence of mind, superior wisdom, and consum- 
mate tact, saves her husband from ruin and up- 
holds her household and position in honor and 
safety against want and humiliating dependence. 

All honor is due to the wise and tactful Abi- 
gayil, who saved her house from utter ruin; and 
all honor is due to David for his self-restraint 
and for the respect he j)aid to her presence and 
her appeal to accept from her hand a present as 
a token of esteem. 

Abigayil's wisdom and masterful tact aroused 
the admiration of her in David, and when she 
became the widow of the hard-hearted and foolish 
Nabal, she became the wife of David, the hero, 
the poet, and the future king of Israel. 

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had la- 
mented him, and buried him in Eamah, even in 
his own city : and Saul had removed those that 
had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the 
land. 



Pearls from the Bible. 209 

And the Philistines assembled themselves to- 
gether, and came and encamped at Shunem : and 
Saul assembled together all Israel, and they en- 
camped at Grilboa'. 

And when Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, 
he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 

And Saul asked counsel of the Lord ; but the 
Lord answered him not, either by means of 
dreams, or by means of the Urim, or by means 
of the prophets. 

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek out for 
me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I 
may go to her and inquire of her. And his ser- 
vants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that 
hath a familiar spirit at 'En- dor. 

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other 
garments, and he went, he and two men with him, 
and they came to the woman by night : and he 
said, Divine, I pray thee, unto me by the familiar 
spirit, and bring up for me the one whom I shall 
say unto thee. 

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou 
weli knowest that which Saul hath done, that he 
hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and 
the wizards, out of the land ; wherefore then lay- 
est thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 

And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As 
the Lord livetn, there shall no guilt attach to thee 
for this thing. 

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up 
for thee? And he said, Samuel thou must bring 
up for me. 

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried 
with a loud voice : and the woman said to Saul 
tnus, Why hast thou deceived me? since thou art 
Saul. 

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid ; how- 



210 Pearls from the Bible. 

ever, what hast thou seen ? And the womansaid 
unto Saul, A divine being have I seen ascending 
out of the earth. 

And he said unto her, What is his form? And 
she said, An old man is coming up; and he is 
wrapt in a mantle. And so Saul perceived that 
it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the 
ground, and prostrated himself. 

And Samuel said to Saul. "Why hast thou dis- 
quieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, 
I am greatly distressed, and the Philistines make 
war against me, and God is departed from me, and 
hath not answered me any more, either by the 
agency of the prophets, or by means of dreams; 
wherefore I have called thee, to make known unto 
me, what I shall do. 

Then said Samuel, And why wilt thou ask me, 
seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is be- 
come thy enemy? 

And the Lord hath done for himself as he hath 
spoken through my agency ; and the Lord hath 
rent the government out of thy hand, and hath 
given it to thy associate, to David ; 

As thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord, 
and didst not execute his fierce wrath upon' Ama- 
lek; therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto 
thee this day. 

And the Lord will deliver also Israel with thee 
into the hand of the Philistines ; and to-morrow 
shalt thou and thy sons be with me : also the 
camp of Israel will the Lord deliver into the hand 
of the Philistines. 

Then fell Saul hastily with his full length to 
the earth, and was greatly afraid, because of the 
words of Samuel : there was also no strength in 
him; for he had not eaten any food atl that day, 
and all that night. 



Pearls from the Bible. 211 

And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that 
he was greatly terrified : and she said unto him, 
Behold, thy hand-maid hath obeyed thy voice ; 
and I put my life in my hand, and hearkened 
unto thy words which thou spokest unto me. 

And now, hearken thou also, I pray thee, unto 
the voice of thy hand-maid, and let me set before 
thee a morsel' of bread, and eat; that thou mayest 
have strength when thou goest on the way. 

) But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But 
his servants urged him much, as also the woman; 
and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose 
from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 

And the woman had a fatted calf in the house: 
and she hastened and slaughtered it, and took 
flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread 
thereof: 

And she brought it near before Saul, and before 
his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, 
and went away that night. 

Of all the infamous and foolish acts that King 
Saul perpetrated, this act of calling on a woman 
that hath a familiar spirit and commanding her 
to bring up Samuel, is the most foolish and bar- 
barous. It shows clearly that he, as king, not 
only irritated by his foolishness and tyranny the 
living, but that he sought also to disquiet the 
dead. 

Alas ! there are many nowadays who seek 
those that profess to have a familiar spirit, and 
try to disquiet those who pass beyond the grave, 
and trouble them with their troubles, like Saul 
troubled the departed Samuel. 



212 Pearls from the Bible. 

Reader, if it is your habit to disquiet the living 
with your imaginary or real troubles, for pity's 
sake give rest to dead ones. Let them, at least? 
rest in peace. It would be well with you, if you 
would not seek trouble, like Saul did. He worked 
himself into a frenzy through jealousy of David's 
popularity and future prospects for greatness 
among the people. Saul thereby embittered his 
own existence, and deprived his country of a 
valuable general of his army. He thereby weak- 
ened his reign, and became so deplorable in the 
hour of great trials as to be obliged to call on the 
witch of Endor to summon up the spirit of 
Samuel for consultation. Weak indeed are those 
who rely for help and advice on departed spirits. 
They thereby demonstrate that they have no 
confidence in the grace of God, no confidence in 
themselves, and no confidence in their fellow-men. 
Such men or women are threatened with the 
greatest calamity that can befall man, and that 
calamity consists of a dethroned reason that leads 
to an insane asylum or suicide. Suicide was the 
end of King Saul. 

The career of Saul and his sad ending justified 
the exclamation of the people when he was ap- 
pointed as a king by Samuel : " Is Saul the son 
of Kish also among the prophets? " 

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, 
when David was returned from smiting the 
'Amalekites, that David abode in Ziklag two 
days. 



Pearls from the Bible. 213 

And it came to j)ass on the third day, that, be- 
hold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with 
his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and it 
happened, when he came to David, that he fell 
to the earth, and prostrated himself. 

And David said unto him, From where comest 
thou? And he said unto him. Out of the camp 
of Israel am I eseajDed. 

And David said unto him, What took place 
there? I pray thee, tell me. And he sand, That 
the people are fled from the battle, and that also 
many of the people are fallen and have died; and 
that also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead. 

And David said unto the young man that told 
him, How knowest thou that Saul is dead as also 
Jonathan his son? 

And the young man that tola him, said, I hap- 
pened entirely by chance to be upon mount Gil- 
boa', when, behold, there was Saul leaning upon 
his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen had 
overtaken him. 

And he turned round, and he saw me, and called 
unto me. And I said, Here am I. 

And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I 
answered him, An 'Amalekite am I. 

And he said unto me, Place thyself, I pray thee, 
by me, and slay me; for a mortal tremor hath 
seized on me, although my life is yet whole in 
me. 

So I placed myself by him, and slew him, be- 
cause I was sure that he could not live after his 
fall ; and I took the crown that was upon his head, 
and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have 
brought them unto my lord hither. 

David thereupon took hold of his clothes, and 
rent them ; and (so did) likewise all the men that 
were with him: 



214 Pearls from the Bible. 

And they lamented, and wept, and fasted until 
the evening, tor Saul, and for Jonathan his son, 
and for the people of the Lord, and for the house 
of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 

And David said unto the young man that told 
him, Whence art thou? And he said, The son of 
a stranger, an 'Amalekite, am I. 

And David said unto him, How wast thou not 
afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the 
Lord's anointed ? 

And David called one of the young men, and 
said, Come near, and fall upon him. And he 
smote him that he died. 

And David said unto him, Thy blood is upon 
thy own head : for thy mouth hath testified against 
thee, saying, I myself have slain the Lord's an- 
ointed. 

And Davia lamented with tnis lamentation over 
Saul and over Jonathan his son: 

And he said, That the children of judah should 
be taught the bow; behold it is written in the 
book of Yashar. 

O beauty of Israel! upon the high places slain: 
how are the mighty fallen ! 

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets 
of Ashkelon ; that the daughters of the Philistines 
may not be glad, that the daughters of the uncir- 
cumcised may not rejoice. 

O mountains of Gilboa', no dew, nor rain be 
upon you, nor fields of offerings ; for there the 
shield of the mighty was stained, the shield of 
Saul, as though it had not been anointed with 
oil. 

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the 
mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned never back, 
and the sword of Saul never returned empt} T . 

Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and dear in 



Pearls from the Bible. 215 

their lives, were even in their death not divided: 
more than eagles were they swift, more than lions 
were they strong. 

daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who 
clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses, who 
put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the 
battle! O Jonathan, on thy high places slain. 

1 am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; 
very dear hast thou been unto me: wonderful 
was thy love for me, passing the love of women. 

How are the mighty fallen, and lost the instru- 
ments of war ! 

From this first chapter of the Second Book of 
Samuel we have a full view of the blended 
character of David as a stern soldier and a vivid 
poet. Without hesitation he gave the command 
to slay the self-confessed murderer, and decided 
that the children of Judah should be taught the 
bow. With what poetical words he laments the 
death of Saul and his bosom friend Jonathan. 

How chivalrous are his words, " Saul and Jona- 
than, the beloved and dear in their lives, were 
even in their death not divided ; more than eagles 
were they swift; more than lions were they 
strong." 

" O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who 
clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses; 
who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel." 

" How are the mighty fallen in the midst of 
the battle ! O Jonathan, on thy high places 
slain." 



216 Pearls from the Bible. 

" I am distressed for thee, my brother Jona- 
than ; very dear has thou been unto me : wonder- 
ful was thy love for. me, passing the love of 
women.'' 

" How are the mighty fallen, and lost the in- 
struments of war! " 

And it came to pass after this, that David asked 
counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall 1 go up into 
one of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said 
unto him. Go up. And David said, Whither shall 
I go up ? And he said, Unto Hebron. 

So David went up thither, and his two wives 
also, Achino ; am the Yizre'elitess, and Abigayil, 
Cabal's wife the Carmelite. 

And his men that were with him did David 
bring up, every man with his household ; and 
they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 

And then came the men of Judah, and they 
anointed there David as king over the house of 
Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of 
Yabesh-gil'ad were those that buried Saul, 

And David thereupon sent messengers unto the 
men of Yabesh-giFad, and said unto them, Bles- 
sed be ye of the Lord, that ye have done this 
kindness unto your lord, unto Saul, and have 
buried him. 

And now may the Lord deal with you in kind- 
ness and truth ; and as for me also, I will requite 
you this good deed, because ye have done this 
thing. 

And now let your hands be strengthened, and 
be ye valiant men ; for your lord Saul is dead : 
and also me have the house of Judah anointed as 
king over them. 

But Abner, the son of Ner, the captain of the 



Pearls from the Bible. 217 

army of Saul, took Ish-bosheth tbe son of Saul, 
and brought him over to Machanayim; 

And made him kino- over Gril'ad, and over the 
Ashurites, and over Yizre'el, and over Ephraim, 
and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 

Forty years old was Ish-bosheth the son of 
Saul, when he became king over Israel, and two 
years he reigned. But the house of Judah fol- 
lowed David. 

And the number of days that David was king 
in Hebron over the house of Judah, was seven 
years and six months. 

And there went out Abner the son of Ner, and 
the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, from 
Machanayim to Grib'on. 

And Joab the son of Zeruyah and the servants 
of David also went out, and they met together by 
the pool of Grib'on : and they sat down, these on 
the one side of the pool, and the others on the 
other side of the pool. 

And Abner said to Joab, Do let the young men 
rise up and play before us. And Joab said, They 
may rise up. 

Then they rose up and went over by number : 
twelve for Benjamin and for Ish-bosheth the son 
of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 

And they grasped everyone his fellow by the 
head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; 
and they fell down together : wherefore that place 
was called Chelkath-hazzurim, which is by Grib'on. 

And the battle was exceedingly fierce on that 
day ; and Abner with the men of Israel was 
beaten before the servants of David. 

And there were at that place three sons of Ze- 
ruyah, Joab, and Abishai, and 'Asahel : and 'Asa- 
hel was as fleet of foot as any roe in the field. 

And 'Asahel pursued after Abner ; and he 



218 Pearls from the Bible. 

turned not in going to the right hand or to the 
left from following Abner. 

And Abner turned round and said, Art thou 
'Asahel ? And he answered, I am. 

And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy 
right hand or to thy left, and lay hold for thyself 
on one ol the young men, and take thyself his 
armour. But 'Asahel would not turn aside from 
following him. 

And Abner repeated again to say unto : Asahel, 
Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore 
should I smite thee to the ground? and how 
should I then lift up my face to Joab thy brother? 

But he refused to turn aside; and Abner smote 
him with the hinder end of the spear, under the 
fifth rib, so that the spear came out behind him ; 
and he fell down there, and died on the spot : and 
it came to pass, that all who came to the place 
where 'Asahel had fallen down and died remained 
standing still. 

But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner : 
and the sun went down when they were come to 
the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Griach on the 
way to the wilderness of Grib'on. 

And the children of Benjamin assembled them- 
selves together behind Abner, and formed one 
solid body, and posted themselves on the top of 
a certain hill. 

And Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall for 
everlasting the sword devour? knowest thou not 
that it will be bitter in the end? and how long 
shall it be, ere thou wilt bid the people to return 
from pursuing their brethren? 

And Joab said, As G-od liveth, unless thou hadst 
spoken, surely then already in the morning would 
the people have gone away every one from pursu- 
ing his brother. 



Pearls from the Bible. 219 

So Joab blew the cornet, and all the people re- 
mained standing still, and pursued no more after 
Israel, and they continued no more to fight. 

And Abner and his men walked through the 
plain all that night, and they passed over the 
Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they 
came to Machanayim. 

And Joab returned from pursuing Abner; and 
he gathered all the people together; and there 
were missed of David's servants nineteen men and 
'Asahel. 

But the servants of David had smitten (many) 
of Benjamin, and of Abner'smen: three hundred 
and sixty men died. 

And they took up 'Asahel, and buried him in 
the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth- 
lechem. And Joab and his men went all that 
night, and the day broke on them at Hebron. 

And the war lasted a long time between the 
house of Saul and the house of David ; but David 
became continually stronger and stronger, and the 
house of Saul became continually weaker and 
weaker. 

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was 
Eizpah, the daughter of Ajah : and Ish-bosheth 
said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto 
my father's concubine? 

And Abner became very wroth because of the 
words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I the chief of 
the dogs which belong to Judah? unto this day 
have I shown kindness unto the house of Saul thy 
father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and 
have not delivered thee into the hand of David ; 
and yet thou chargest me to-day with a wrong 
committed with this woman? 

May God do so to Abner, and continue to do 



220 Pearls from the Bible. 

jet more to him, that, as the Lord hath sworn to 
David, even so will I surely do to him ; 

To transfer the kingdom from the house of 
Saul, and to establish the throne of David over 
Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer- 
sheba'. 

And he could not answer Abner a word more 
in reply, because of his fear of him. 

And Abner sent messengers to David on his be- 
half, saying, Whose is the land? saying (also), 
Make thy covenant with me, and, behold, my 
hand shall be with thee, to bring round unto thee 
all Israel. 

And Abner had used these words with the 
elders of Israel, saying, Already yesterday and 
even before ye have been desiring David as king 
over you : 

And now do it ; for the Lord hath said of David 
thus, By the hand of my servant David will I 
save my people Israel out of the hand of the 
Philistines, and out of the hand of all their ene- 
mies. 

And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin ; 
and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David 
in Hebron all that seemed good in the eyes of Is- 
rael, and in the eyes of the whole house of Ben- 
jamin. 

And Abner came to David to Hebron, and with 
him were twenty men ; and David made for Ab- 
ner and for the men that were with him a feast. 

And Abner said unto David, I will now arise 
and g° 5 au( * I will assemble unto my lord the 
kino- all Israel, that they may make a covenant 
with thee, and that thou may est reign over all 
that thy soul longeth for. And David dismissed 
Abner: and he went in peace. 

And, behold, the servants of David and Joab 



Pearls from the Bible. 221 

came from a predatory excursion, and brought 
in much booty with them ; but Abner was no 
more with David in Hebron; for he had dismissed 
him, and he was gone in peace. 

When Joab and all the army that was with him 
were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son 
of Ner came to the king, and he hath dismissed 
him, and he is gone in peace. 

Then came Joab to the king, and said, What 
hast thou done ? behold, Abner came unto thee: 
why is it that thou hast dismissed him, that he 
went freely away? 

Thou k no west Abner the son of Ner, that to de- 
ceive thee did he come, and to know thy going 
out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou 
art doing. 

And Joab went out from David, and he sent 
messengers after Abner, who brought him back 
from the well of Sirah ; but David knew it not. 

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab 
took him aside in the gate to speak with him in 
private; and he smote him there under the fifth 
rib, and he died, for the blood of 'Asahel his 
brother. 

And when David heard it afterward, he said, I 
and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for- 
ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 

May it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his 
father's house ; and may there not fail from the 
house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a 
leper, or that leaneth on a crutch, or that falleth 
by the sword, or that lacketh bread. 

But Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, 
because he had killed their brother 'Asahel at 
Gib'on in the battle. 

And David said to Joab, and to all the people 
that were with him, Eend your clothes, and gird 



222 Pearls from the Bible. 

yourselves with sackcloth, and (go) mourning be- 
fore Abner. And king David walked behind the 
bier. 

And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the 
king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of 
Abner; and all the people wept. 

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, 
O, that Abner had to die, as the worthless dieth ! 

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David 
unto Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold us, thy 
bone and thy flesh are we; 

Already yesterday, and even before, when Saul 
was king over us, thou wast the one that led out 
and brought in Israel : 

And the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt indeed 
feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a chief 
over Israel. 

Thus came all the elders of Israel to the king 
unto Hebron ; and king David made a covenant 
with them in Hebron before the Lord : and they 
anointed David as king over Israel. 

Thirty years was David old when he became 
king, (and) forty years he reigned. 

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years 
and six months : and in Jerusalem he reigned 
thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 

The thrones of David and Ish-bosheth were 
upheld by two generals — Joab for David, and Ab- 
ner for Ish-bosheth. Jo?ib seemed to be the abler 
of the two, and was determined to uphold the 
throne of David, and, if possible, consolidate the 
kingdoms of Judah and Israel under one govern- 
ment, appointing David as king. 

Abner was far nobler in spirit than Joab, but 



Pearls from the Bible. 223 

was easily offended, and that weakness cost him 
his life, and Ish-bosheth his throne. David was 
more diplomatic. He would not offend Joab 
openly, and thereby used Joab's great ability to 
his advantage, and became king over Israel. But 
Joab was the power behind the throne. 

King David was a great warrior, but his gen- 
eral Joab was his right-hand man in war. The 
Philistines had not before them the undecided 
JLing Saul, but King David and Joab, who were 
decided to win battles, and moved the armies ac- 
cordingly. It is the same nowadays with indi- 
viduals and with governments. If an individual 
knows his mind is determined to succeed, be will, 
as a rule, succeed, perhaps not as soon as he ex- 
pected, but in the end he will be triumphant. 

King David was determined to enlarge the do- 
main of the people of Israel, and he moved for- 
ward with the spirit of a great conqueror. 

And it came to pass after this, that David smote 
the Philistines, and humbled them: and David 
took Metheg-haammah out of the hand of the 
Philistines. 

And he smote Moab, and measured them with 
a line, laying them down on the ground; and he 
measured with two lines to put to death, and with 
one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites be- 
came David's servants, bringing presents. 

David smote also Hadad'ezer, the son of Ee- 
chob, the king of Zobah, as he went to extend 
his territory at the river Euphrates. 

And David captured from him a thousand and 



224 Pearls from the Bible. 

seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand 
men on loot : and David hamstringed all the 
chariot-teams, but reserved of them a hundred 
chariot-teams. 

And the Syrians of Damascus then came to aid 
Hadad'ezer the king of Zobah, when David slew 
of the Syrians twenty and two thousand men. 

And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; 
and the Syrians became servants to David, bear- 
ing presents. And the Lord helped David wither- 
soever he went, 

And David took the shields of guld that be- 
longed to the servants of Hadad'ezer, and brought 
them to Jerusalem. 

And from Betach, and from Berothai, cities of 
Hadad'ezer, did king David take exceedingly 
much copper. 

And when Tho'i the king of Chamath heard 
that David had smitten all the host of Hadad- 
'ezer, 

Then did Tho'i send Yoram his son unto king 
David, to ask him after his well-being, and to 
bless him, because that he had fought against 
Hadad'ezer, and smitten him ; for Hadad'ezer had, 
been engaged in wars with Tho'i; and he had in 
his hand vessels of silver, and vessels of gold 
and vessels of copper : 

These also did king David sanctify unto the 
Lord, with the silver and gold that he had sancti- 
fied from all the nations which he subdued ; 

From Syria, and from Moab, and from the chil- 
dren of 'Ammon, and from the Philistines, an d 
from 'Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadad'ezer r 
the son of Rechob, the king of Zobah. 

And David acquired a name when he returned 
from his smiting the Syrians in the valley of salt, 
eighteen thousand men. 



Pearls from the Bible. 225 

And he put garrisons in Edom : throughout all 
Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites be- 
came servants to David. And the Lord helped 
David whithersoever he went. 

And David reigned over all Israel ; and David 
did what is just and right unto all his people. 

And Joab the son of Zeruyah was over the army: 
and Jehoshaphat the son of Achilud was recor- 
der ; 

And Zadok the son of Achitub, and Achimelech 
the son of Ebyathar, were priests ; and Serayah 
was scribe ; 

And Benayahu the son of Yehoyada' was over 
both the Kerethites and the Pelethites ; and 
David's sons were officers of state. 

This we consider the most prosperous period of 
King David's reign. The state was well organ- 
ized and justly governed under strong men, and 
as a natural result the people were prosperous 
and happy. 

King David demonstrated the nobleness of his 
nature by bestowing favors on Mephibosheth, the 
son of Jonathan, to whom a large estate was 
restored, and who was a guest and ate at the 
king's table. 

And it came to pass after this, that the king of 
the children of 'Amnion died, and Chanun his 
son became king in his stead. 

Then said David, I will show kindness unto 
Chanun the son of JSTachash,as his father showed 
me kindness. And David sent to comfort him 
by the hand of his servants for his father. And 



226 Pearls from the Bible. 

David's servants came unto the land of the chil 
dren of 'Ammon. 

And the princes of the children of 'Amnion 
said unto Chanun their lord, Doth David honor 
thy father in thy eyes, that he hath sent com- 
forters unto thee? hath David not sent his ser- 
vants unto thee, in order to search the city, and 
to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 

Chanun thereupon took David's servants, and 
shaved off the one-half of their beard, and cut 
off their garments in the middle, even to their 
buttocks, and sent them away. 

When they told it unto David, he sent (persons) 
to meet them, because the men were greatly 
ashamed : and the king said, Tarry at Jericho 
until your beard be grown, and then return. 

And when the children of 'Ammon saw that 
they were become in bad odor with David, the 
children of 'Ammon sent and hired the Syrians 
of Beth-rechob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty 
thousand men on foot, and the king Ma'achah 
with a thousand men, and of the people of Tob 
twelve thousand men. 

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and 
all the army, (and) the mighty men. 

And the children of 'Amnion came out, and put 
themselves in battle-array at- the entrance of the 
gate; and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Eechob, 
and the people of Tob and Ma'achah, were by 
themselves in the field. 

When now Joab saw that the front of the battle 
was against him before and behind, he selected 
from all the chosen, men of Israel, and arrayed 
himself against the Syrians: 

And the rest of the people he delivered into the 
band of Abishai his brother, who arrayed himself 
against the children of 'Ammon. 



Pearls from the Bible. 227 

And he said, if the Syrians be too strong for me, 
then shalt thou bring me help; but if the chil- 
dren of 'Auimon be too strong for thee, then will 
I go to help thee. 

Be strong, and let as strengthen ourselves in 
behalf of our people, and in behalf of the cities 
of our G-od : and may the Lord .do that which 
seemeth good in his eyes. 

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were 
with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and 
they fled from before him. 

And when the children of 'Aramon saw that 
the Syrians were fled, then did they also fly be- 
fore Abishai, and entered into the city. Joab then 
returned from the children of 'Amnion, and came 
to Jerusalem. 

And when the Syrians saw that they were 
smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves 
altogether. 

And Hadar'ezer sent, and brought out the Syr- 
ians that were beyond the river, and they came 
to Chelam; and Shobach, the captain of the army 
of Hadar'ezer, went before them. 

And when it was told to David, he gathered all 
Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and 
came to Chelam. And the Syrians set themselves 
in battle-array against David, and fought with 
him. 

And the Syrians fled from before Israel ; and 
David slew of the Syrians (the men) of seven 
hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen : 
and Shobach also the captain of their army he 
smote, and he died there. 

And when all the kings, the vassals to Hadar- 
'ezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, 
they made peace with Israel, and served them; 



228 Pearls from the Bible. 

and the Syrians feared to help the children of 
'Ammon any more. 

There is nothing so bad n human affairs as bad 
advice. Uncountable millions of people lost their 
fortunes, their- country, and their lives through 
bad advice. The pages of history teem with 
such records. And we can see it in our surround- 
ings, almost daily, how this man or that woman 
became the victims through bad advice. Com- 
munities which are pleasantly located and have 
every advantage to secure prosperity, don't pros- 
per on account of bad advice. 

Nations who are intelligent, nevertheless go to 
war on the slightest provocation through bad ad- 
vice, and slaughter without mercy their noblest 
sons. They cause mourning to thousands of once 
happy homes, and load their posterity with debts 
that consume their earnings for generations. 

It is therefore of the utmost importance to all, 
to reason pro and con over the advice received 
before it is finally adopted and acted upon. By 
pondering thus over advice, prevents calamities 
which would happen had the advice which was 
bad been accepted and carried out. 

And so it was with the children of 'Ammon. 
Their new ruler, Chanun, was badly advised, which 
caused war, and thousands of valiant men lost 
their lives. 

That the armies must have been very large we 
may surmise from the record that David slew of 



Pearls from the Bible. 229 

the Syrians seven hundred charioteers and forty 
thousand horsemen. Such victories secured 
peace for Israel. 

And it came to pass, at the return of the same 
season of the year, at the time when kings go 
iorth, that David sent Joab, and his servants with 
him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the chil- 
dren of 'Amnion, and besieged Kabbah. But 
David remained behind at Jerusalem. 

And it happened at evening-tide, that David 
arose from off his couch, and walked upon the 
roof of the king's house: and he saw from the 
roof a woman bathing herself; and the woman 
was of a very beautiful appearance. 

And David sent and inquired after the woman; 
and some ope said, Behold, this is Bath-sheba', 
the daughter of Eli'am, the wife of Uriyah 
[Uriah] the Hittite. 

And David sent messengers and took her; and 
she came in unto him, and he lay with her, and 
she had just purified herself from her unclean- 
ness: and she returned unto her house. 

And the woman conceived ; and she sent and 
told David, and said, I am with child. 

And David sent to Joab, Send unto me Uriyah 
the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriyah to David. 

And when Uriyah was come unto him, David 
asked after the well-being of Joab, and after the 
well-being of the people, and how the war pros- 
pered. 

And David said to Uriyah, Go down to thy 
house, and wash thy feet. And Uriyah went 
forth out of the king's house, and there followed 
him a mess of food from the king. 

But Uriyah laid himself down at the door of 



230 Pearls from the Bible. 

the king's house with all the servants of his lord, 
and went not down to his house. 

And they told David, saying, Uriyah is not 
gone down unto his house : and David said unto 
Uriyah, Art thou not come from a journey? why 
then art thou not gone down unto thy own house? 

Then said Uriyah unto David, The ark, and 
Israel, and Judah, abide in booths ; and my lord 
Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped 
in the open field : and should I alone go unto my 
house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my 
wife ? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will 
not do this thing. 

And David said to Uriyah, Tarry here also this 
day, and to-morrow will I send thee off. So 
Uriyah remained in Jerusalem on that day and 
the following. 

And David invited him, and he ate and drank 
before him, and he made him drunken ; and he 
went out in the evening to lie down on his rest- 
ing-place with the servants of his lord; but to his 
house he did not go down. 

And it came to pass in the morning, that David 
wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of 
Uriyah. 

And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriyah 
in front, opposite to the hottest fight, and then 
withdraw from behind him, that he may be smit- 
ten and die. 

And it came to pass, when Joab was enclosing 
the city, that he placed Uriyah toward the spot 
of which he knew that valiant men were there. 

And the men of the city went out and fought 
with Joab; and there fell some of the people, of 
the servants of David, and there died also Uriyah 
the Hittite. 



Pearls from the Bible. 231 

Then did Joab send, and told unto David all 
the events of the war. 

And he charged the messenger, saying, When 
thou hast finished telling all the events of the 
war to the king, 

And it happen that the kings wrath arise, and 
he say unto thee, Wherefore did you approach 
unto the city to fight? knew ye not, that they 
would shoot down from off the wall? 

Who smote Abimelech the son of Yerubbesheth? 
did not a woman throw down upon him a piece 
of an upper mill-stone from off the wall, so that 
he died at Thebez? why did ye approach unto the 
wall? then must thou say, Also thy servant Uri- 
yah the Hittite is dead. 

And the messenger went, and came and told 
unto David all for which Joab had sent him. 

And the messenger said unto David, Because 
the men overpowered us, and came out against us 
into the field ; but we set upon them, as far as the 
entrance of the gate. 

And the archers then shot at thy servants from 
off the wall; and there died some of the servants 
of the king, and also thy servant Uriyah the Hit- 
tite is dead. 

Then said David to the messenger, Thus shalt 
thou say to Joab, Let this thing not be displeas- 
ing in thy eyes; for at times this, at other times 
the other will the sword devour; continue firmly 
in thy war against the city, and overthrow it; 
and thus do thou encourage him. 

And when the wife of Uriyah heard that Uri- 
yah her husband had died, she mourned for her 
lord. 

And when the (time of) mourning was past, 
David sent and took her to his house, and she be- 
came his wife; and she bore him a son. But the 



232 Pearls from the Bible. 

thing which David had done was displeasing in 
the eyes of the Lord. 

The most infamous act in the life of King 
David was when he coveted another man's wife, 
took possession of her, and dispatched her hus- 
band with a message to his general, which placed 
the bearer in front, opposite to the hottest fight, 
and then withdrew support from him that he 
might be killed. This act verifies the saying that 
great men kave great passions. King David was 
a great man, but not great enough to control his 
passions by reason and the voice of conscience. 

His unbridled passions, in this instance, made 
him a sinner before God and man ; and that this 
disgraceful act was duly recorded, shows the im- 
partiality of the Bible, which makes it the book 
of books, disclosing what happens to a man should 
he go astray. 

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David, and he 
came unto him and said to him, Two men were 
once in one city, the one rich and the other poor. 

The rich man had flocks and herds, in abun- 
dance. 

But the poor man had nothing, save one little 
ewe, which he had bought ; and he nourished it, 
and it grew up with him and with his children 
together; of his bread it used to eat, and out of 
his cup it used to drink, and in his bosom it used 
to lie, and it was to him as a daughter. 

And there came a traveler unto the rich man ; 
and he felt compunction to take from his own 
flocks and from his own herds to dress for the 



Pearls from the Bible. 233 

wayfarer that was come to him ; but he took the 
ewe of the poor man, and dressed it for the man 
that was come to him. 

And the anger of David was greatly kindled 
against the man ; and he said to Nathan, As the 
Lord liveth, surely the man that hath done this 
deserveth to die ; 

And the ewe he shall pay fourfold, for punish- 
ment that he hath done this thing, and because 
lie had no compassion. 

Then said Nathan to David, Thou art the man! 
Thus hath said the Lord, the Grod of Israel, It is 
I who anointed thee as king over Israel, and it is 
I who delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 

And I gave unto thee the house of thy master, 
and (put) the wives of .thy master into thy bosom, 
and gave unto thee the house of Israel and Judah: 
and if this be too little, I could bestow on thee 
yet many more like these things. 

Wherefore hast thou despised the word of the 
Lord to do what is evil in his eyes? Uriyah the 
Hittite hast thou smitten with the sword, and his 
wife hast thou taken unto thee for wife ; but him 
hast thou slain with the sword of the children of 
"Amnion. 

And now, the sword shall not depart from thy 
house for ever; for the reason that thou hast de- 
spised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriyah the 
Hittite to be thy wife. 

Thus hath said the Lord, Behold I will raise up 
against thee evil out of thy own house, and I will 
take away thy wives before thy eyes, and I will 
give them unto thy neighbor; and he shall lie 
with thy wives before the face of this sun. 

For thou hast done it in secret ; but I will 
surely do this thing before all Israel, and before 
the sun. 



234 Pearls from the Bible. 

Then said David unto Nathan, I have sinned 
against the Lord. 

And Nathan said to David, Also the Lord hath 
caused thy sin to pass away : thou shalt not 
die. 

Nevertheless, because thou hast given great 
cause to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme 
through this thing, the child also that hath been 
born unto thee shall surely die. 

And Nathan went to his house; and the Lord 
struck the child that TJriyah's wile had born unto 
David, that it became very sick. 

And David besought God in behalf of the lad ; 
and David kept a fast, and came home, and lay 
over night upon the earth. 

And the elders of his house arose about him r 
to raise him up from the earth ; but he would 
not, and he did not partake of any bread with 
them. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day that 
the child died: and the servants of David were 
afraid to tell him, that the child was dead; for 
they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, 
we spoke to him, and he would not hearken to 
our voice : how then shall we say to him, The 
child is dead ! he might do (himself) a hurt. 

But when David saw that his servants were 
whispering to each other, David understood that 
the child was dead; wherefore David said unto 
his servants, Is the child dead ? and they said, He 
is dead. 

David then rose up from the earth, and washed 
and anointed himself, and changed his garments, 
and went into the house of the Lord and pros- 
trated himself; and then he came to his own 
house, and asked that they should set food before 
him, and he ate. 



Pearls from the Bible. 235 

And his servants then said unto him, What is 
this thing which thou hast done? On account of 
the child when living thou didst fast and weep ; 
but as soon as the child was dead thou didst arise 
and eat bread ! 

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I 
fasted and wept; because I said, Who knoweth, 
but that the Lord will be gracious to me, that the 
child may live ? 

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast 
then ? can I restore him again ? I am going to 
him; but he will not return to me. 

And David comforted Bath-sheba' his wife, and 
he went in unto her, and lay with her ; and she 
bore a son, and called his name Solomon : and the 
Lord loved him. 

And he sent by the hand of Nathan the 
prophet, and called his name Yedideyah [Beloved 
of the Lord], in behalf of the Lord. 

And Joab fought against Kabbah of the chil- 
dren of 'Ammon, and captured the royal city. 

And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, 
I have fought against Rabbah, and have also 
captured the water-town. 

And now gather the rest of the people together, 
and encamp against the city, and capture it; lest 
1 capture the city myself, and it be called by my 
name. 

And David gathered all the people together and 
went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and cap- 
tured it. 

And he took the crown of Malkam from off his 
head, and its weight was a talent of gold, and (on 
it was) a precious stone, and it was set on the 
head of David; and the booty of the city he 
brought out in great abundance. 

And the people that were therein he brought 



236 Pearls from the Bible. 

forward, and put them under saws, and under 
iron threshing-wagons, and under axes of iron, 
and made them pass through brick-kilns; and 
thus did he unto all the cities of the children of 
'Ammon : and David returned then with all the 
people unto Jerusalem. 

For all time — as long as the sun rises and sets; 
as long as hills will surround the valleys ; as 
long as water will flow downward and find its 
level ; as long as men will exist who see and feel, 
and are able to read and comprehend — so long 
the act of the prophet Nathan, upbraiding King 
David for the great sin he committed against 
Uriyah, the husband of Bathsheba, will be ad- 
mired. The prophet Nathan's words, although 
spoken thousands of years ago, still resound in 
every guilty heart : " Thou art the man. 1 ' 

Mankind is nowadays poor — wretchedly poor — 
in such prophets or priests as the prophet Nathan 
was, who had the manly spirit to face such a man 
as King David, and tell him his fault, and ex- 
claim, "Thou art the man!" David felt the 
reproach, and rej)ented, and became abetter man. 

The present age needs such teachers as Nathan 
was. Where are they ? Alas, not in the pulpit ! 
We have ministers in the pulpit who talk, but 
who do not speak words of admonition that burn 
like the words of Nathan did, that burned into 
the innermost heart of David, who then ac- 
knowledged, " I have sinned against the Lord." 

It is a healthy sign of morality to see men and 



Pearls from the Bible. 237 

women exerting their best efforts to gather to- 
gether the necessary means to erect a house of 
worship ; and how happy they all feel when 
their efforts are crowned with success! It is a 
day of rejoicing when they celebrate the dedica- 
tion of their church to the service of the Lord. 
It is therefore a great pity that such a congrega- 
tion, consisting of devout people, should have a 
minister who has not the ability or the sacred 
fire of enthusiasm within him to arouse his con- 
gregation to still nobler achievements than the 
building of their church. And what nobler 
achievements are there for mankind than to 
make every man and every woman holy in all 
the relations of life ? When Moses said : " Ye 
shall be a holy people, for the Lord your G-od is 
holy," he placed the patent of nobility on every 
individual. To be holy in feeling and action is 
true nobility, and everybody can be thus noble r 
if they try ; and who but the pulpit orator can 
best arouse that holy feeling — provided he him- 
self is holy in feeling and actions, which gives to 
his countenance a celestial luster? With his 
eyes beaming mildly, with an air of simplicity 
and modest demeanor, he stands in his pulpit 
permeated with his subject, and with unstudied 
gestures and passionate tones conveys to the 
mind the most brilliant light and to the heart 
the most tender emotions. Such sermons from 
such a priest purify the thoughts, strengthen the 
affection between husband and wife and the rev- 



238 Pearls from the Bible. 

erence of the children for their parents ; it 
makes them better men and better women, and 
leads them on to become holy in feelings and 
actions. They therefore enter upon a higher 
plane of their earthly existence, that will eventu- 
ally lead them to the throne of eternal grace. 

To have such priests, they must not only be 
educated, but encouraged by the large attend- 
ance to hear their sermons, and they must be 
given every possible encouragement in their work, 
which can indeed be called blessed. 

And it came to pass after this, that Abshalom 
the son of David had a handsome sister, whose 
name was Thamar; and Amnon the son of David 
loved her. 

And Amnon worried himself so that he fell 
sick on account of Thamar his sister: for she was 
a virgin ; and it was impossible in the eyes of 
Amnon to do her the least (harm). 

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was 
Tonadab, the son of Shinrah, David"s brother; 
and Yonadab was a very sensible man. 

And he said to him, Why art thou so wasted, 
O prince, morning after morning? Wilt thou 
not tell me? Then said Amnon to him, Thamar 
the sister of Abshalom my brother do I love. 

And Yonadab said to him. Lie down on thy 
couch, and feign thyself sick: and when thy 
father cometh to see thee, thou must say unto 
him, Let, I pray thee, Thamar my sister come, 
and give me some food, and prepare the refresh- 
ment before my eyes, in order that I may see it, 
and eat it out of her hand. 
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick j 



Pearls from the Bible. 239 

and when the king came to see him, Amnon said 
to the king, Let, I pray thee, Thamar my sister 
come, and mix up before my eyes a couple of 
cakes, that I may enjoy them out of her hand. 

Then did David send home to Thamar, saying. 
Do go now to thy brother Amnon 's house, and 
prepare for him the refreshment. 

So Thamar went to the house of Amnon her 
brother, and he was lying down ; and she took 
the dough and kneaded, and mixed it up before 
his eyes, and baked the cakes; 

And she took the pan, and poured them out be- 
fore him; but he refused to eat; and Amnon 
said, Cause every man to go out from me; and 
they went out, every man, from him. 

And Amnon said unto Thamar, Bring the re- 
freshment into the chamber, that I may enjoy it 
out of thy hand. So Thamar took the cakes 
which she had made, and brought them unto 
Amnon her brother into the chamber. 

And when she had brought them near unto 
him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto 
her, Come, lie with me, my sister. 

But she said to him, No, my brother, do not 
violate me ; for such a deed ought not to be done 
in Israel ; do not this scandalous act ! 

And I, whither should I carry my shame? and 
as for thee, thou wouldst be like one of the worth- 
less in Israel; but now, O speak, I pray thee, 
unto the king, for he will not withhold me from 
thee. 

Nevertheless, he would not hearken unto her 
voice ; but he overpowered her, and violated her, 
and lay with her. 

Then did Amnon hate her with a very great 
hatred; so that the hatred with which he hated 
her was greater than the love with which he had 



240 Pearls from the Bible 

loved her ; and Amnon said unto her, Arise, be 
gone. 

And she said to him, (Do) not add this yet 
greater wrong than the other which thou hast 
done with me, to send me (now) away ! But he 
would not listen to her ; 

And he called his young man, his servant, and 
said, Do send this woman away from me, into the 
street, and lock the door behind her. 

And she had on her a garment of divers colors; 
for thus were usually apparelled the king's daugh- 
ters when virgins, in robes: and his servant 
brought her out into the street, and locked the 
door behind her. 

And Thamar put ashes on her head, and the 
garment of divers colors which was on her she 
rent; and she placed her hand on her head, and 
went away, and cried as she went along. 

Then said to her Abshalom her brother, Hath 
Amnon thy brother been with thee ? but now, my 
sister, keep silence, he is thy brother ; take this 
thing not to thy heart. So Thamar remained, 
and was secluded in the house of Abshalom her 
brother. 

And when king David heard all these things, it 
displeased him greatly. 

And Abshalom spoke not with Amnon either 
bad or good ; for Abshalom hated Amnon, be- 
cause he had violated Thamar his sister. 

And it came to pass after two full years, that 
Abshalom had sheep-shearers at Ba'alchazor, 
which is near Ephraim; and Abshalom invited 
all the king's sons. 

And Abshalom came to the king, and said, Be- 
hold, now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers ; let 
the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with 
thy servant. 



Pearls from the Bible. 241 

And the king said to Abshalom, ~No, my son, do 
not let us all go now, that we may not be a bur- 
den upon thee. And he urged him much, but he 
would not go, and he blessed him. 

And Abshalom said, If not, let, I pray thee, 
Am non my brother go with us. And the king 
said to him, Why should he go with thee ? 

But Abshalom urged him greatly, and he sent 
with him Amnon and all the sons of the king. 

Now Abshalom commanded his servants, say- 
ing, Mark ye, I pray you, when Amnon's heart is 
merry with wine, and I say unto you, Smite Am- 
non : then kill him, fear not; behold, it is I who 
command it you ; be firm and show yourselves 
men of valor. 

And the servants of Abshalom did unto Amnon 
as Abshalom had commanded. Then arose all 
the king's sons, and they rode off, every man on 
his mule, and fled. 

And it happened, while they were on the way, 
that the report came to David, saying, Abshalom 
hath smitten all the king's sons, and there is not 
one of them left. 

Then arose the king and rent his garments, 
and laid himself on the earth ; and all his ser- 
vants w r ere standing by with their garments rent. 

But Yonadab the son of Shim'ah, David's 
brother, commenced and said, Let not my lord 
suppose that they have slain all the young men, 
the king* s sons ; since Amnon alone is dead ; for 
by the command of Abshalom was this ordained 
from the day that he violated Thamar his sis- 
ter. 

And now let not my lord the king take the 
thing to his heart, thinking, that all the king's 
sons are dead ; for Amnon alone is dead. 

And Abshalom fled away. And the young man 



242 Pearls from the Bible. 

that was watching lifted up his eyes, and looked, 
and behold, many people were coming by the way 
behind him, by the side of the mount. 

And Yonodab said to the king, The king's sons 
are come : according to the word of thy servant, 
so hath it come to pass. 

And it happened, as he had just finished speak- 
ing, that, behold, the king's sons came, and they 
lifted up their voice and wept; and also the king 
and all his servants wept very much. 

But Abshalom had fled: and he went to Thal- 
mai, the son of 'Ammihud, the king of Geshur: 
and (David) mourned for his son all the time. 

So did Abshalom fly, and go to Geshur, and he 
remained there three years. 

And (the soul of) king David longed to go forth 
unto Abshalom ; for he was comforted concerning 
Amnon, that he was dead. 

This record vividly demonstrates that the 
teachings of Moses are correct; that the sins of 
the father are transmitted to the third and fourth 
generations. David transmitted his amorous, 
lustful nature, unrestrained by reason or con- 
science, to his son Amnon, and this unfortunate 
young man had the misfortune of having a bad 
adviser in his uncle Yonadab. Instead of reason- 
ing with him. and urging him into active occupa- 
tions that would lead his thoughts to nobler aims,, 
Yonadab counseled inactivity, the seed that prop- 
agates mischief that culminates into griveous sins. 
Sins that cause other sins to be committed, and 
this was the rule in this scandalous case. Absha- 
lom, the brother of Thamar, caused Amnon to be 



Pearls from the Bible. 243 

killed in order to avenge the great wrong that 
Amnon committed towards his sister. 

The sin of Amnon was the direct cause of 
Abshalom's rebellion against his father, King 
David, whom he aimed to dethrone and to es- 
tablish a Republic. He would have succeeded 
were it not to the accident that his long hair be- 
came entangled among the thick boughs of a great 
oak, unsaddling him, and which left him power- 
less to the merciless Joab, who killed him without 
the slightest hesitation, and thereby ended the 
rebellion. 

Joab blew the cornet, and the people returned 
from pur suing after Israel, for Joab restrained the 
people. 

When King David learned that Abshalom died, 
he wept, and exclaimed: "O my son Abshalom, 
my son, my son! would that I had died in thy 
stead. O Abshalom, my son, my son ! " 

And it was told unto Joab, Behold, the king is 
weeping and he mourneth for Abshalom. 

And the victory on that day was turned into 
mourning unto all the people; for the people 
heard it said on that day, that the king was 
grieved for his son. 

And the people repaired by stealth on that day 
when coming into the city, as usually steal away 
the people who are ashamed when they flee in 
battle. 

But the king covered his face, and the king 
cried with a loud voice, O my son Abshalom, O 
Abshalom, my son, my son ! 



244 Pearls from the Bible. 

And Joab came to the king, into the house, and 
said, Thou hast covered with shame this day the 
faces of all thy servants, who have saved thy life 
this day, and the life of thy sons and of thy 
daughters, and the life of thy wives, and the lifo 
of thy concubines ; 

Since thou lovest thy enemies, and hatest thy 
friends; for thou hast declared this day, that thou 
hast neither princes nor servants; for I perceive 
this day, that if Abshalom were but alive, and we 
all were dead this day, that then it would have 
been just right in thy eyes. 

And now arise, go forth, and speak to the heart 
of thy servants; for by the Lord have I sworn, 
that if thou go not forth, there shall not remain 
one man with thee this night: and this would be 
worse unto thee than all the evil that hath be- 
fallen thee from thy youth until now. 

Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And 
they told it unto all the people, saying, Behold, 
the king is sitting in the gate. And all the peo- 
ple came before the king; but Israel fled, every 
man to his tent. 

From the language that Joab used we can 
safely come to the conclusion that Abshalom was 
a manly man born to rule, but who lacked the 
merit to abide his time. It is the lack of this 
merit to abide one's time that ruins the fairest 
prospects of achieving great success in their career. 
People are too eager to get rich, too eager to be- 
come prominent, and by that eagerness become 
undone like Abshalom. 

King David wisely submitted to the advice of 
Joab, not as a matter of choice, but out of the 



Pearls from the Bible. 2±S 

sheerest necessity ; for Joab was indeed, as we 
have before stated, the power behind the throne. 
Joab was not only a great general, a great di- 
plomats, but also one of those dangerous men 
who believe in the principle that "The end justi- 
fies the means." A man in power, at the head of 
an army with such principle, "The end justifies 
the means," as a part of his very nature, is a 
dangerous man. David felt it, and he accord- 
ingly kept on good terms with Joab. It was no 
doubt galling to King David, but he too had a 
good deal of that spirit in him, "The end justifies 
the means." He showed it on many occasions to 
his discredit, for which he suffered; but having 
truly repented, he was forgiven by the grace of 
Grod. His repentance was sincere, as his psalm 
of repentance portrays. 

Be gracious unto me, O G-od! according to thy 
loving kindness: according to the greatness of thy 
mercy, blot out my transgressions! 

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and 
cleanse me from my sin ! 

For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my 
sin is ever before me. 

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and 
done that which is evil in thy sight; so that thou 
art just in thy sentence, and righteous in thy 
judgment. 

Behold! I was born in iniquity; and in sin did 
my mother conceive me. 

Behold! thou desirest truth in the inward parts; 
so teach me wisdom in my inmost soul ! 



246 Pearls from the Bible. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean ; 
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow ! 

Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the 
bones which thou hast broken may rejoice ! 

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all 
mine iniquities ! 

Create in me a clean heart, O God! and renew 
a steadfast spirit within me ! 

Cast me not away from thy presence, and take 
not thy holy spirit from me ! 

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and 
uphold me with a willing spirit ! 

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and 
sinners shall return unto thee. 

Deliver me from the guilt of blood, O G-od,thou 
G-od of my salvation! that my tongue may sing 
aloud of thy righteousness ! 

O Lord, open thou my lips, that my mouth may 
show forth thy praise! 

For thou deiightest not in sacrifice; else would 
I give it; thou hast no pleasure in burnt offering. 

The sacrifices of Grod are a broken spirit ; a 
broken and a contrite heart, Grod, thou wilt not 
despise ! 

Now king David was old, stricken in years; 
and they covered him with clothes, but he could 
not become warm. 

Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let them 
seek out for my lord the king a young virgin, and 
let her stand before the king, and let her be an 
attendant on him; and let her lie in thy bosom, 
that my lord the king may become warm. 

So they sought for a fair maiden throughout 
all the territory of Israel; and they found Abi- 
shag the Shunammite, and brought her to the 
■king*. 



Pearls from the Bible. 247 

And the maiden was exceedingly fair ; and she 
became an attendant on the king, and ministered 
to him ; but the kiDg knew her not. 

And Adoniyah the son of Chaggith exalted 
himself, saying, I shall be king: and he procured 
himself a chariot and horsemen, and fifty men 
who ran before him. 

And his father had never grieved him in all his 
life by saying, Why hast thou done so? and he 
also was of a very goodly form; and his mother 
had born him after Abshalom. 

And he had conferences with Joab the son of 
Zeruyah, and with Ebyathar the priest : and they, 
following Adoniyah, heljjed him. 

But Zadok the priest, and Benayahu the son 
of Yehoyada', and Nathan the prophet, and Shim'i, 
and Re'i, and the mighty men that belonged to 
David, were not with Adoniyahu. 

And Adoniyahu slaughtered sheep and oxen 
a,nd fatted cattle by the stone Zocheleth, which is 
by 'En-rogel ; and he invited all his brothers the 
king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's 
servants ; 

But Nathan the prophet, and Benayahu, and 
the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he in- 
vited not. 

And Nathan spoke unto Bath-sheba' the mother 
of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that 
Adoniyahu the son of Chaggith is become king, 
and (that) David our lord knoweth it not? 

And now come, let me, I pray thee, give thee 
counsel, that thou mayest save thy own life, and 
the life of thy son Solomon. 

Go and get thee in unto king David, and say 
unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear 
unto thy hand-maid, saying, Assuredly, Solomon 
thy son shall reign after me, and only he shall sit 



248 Pearls from the Bible. 

upon my throne ? why then is Adoniyahu become 
king? 

And, lo, while thou shalt be yet speaking there 
with the king, I myself will come in after thee, 
and confirm thy words. 

And Bath-sheba' went in unto the king into the 
chamber, and the king was very old; andAbishag- 
the Shunammite was ministering unto the king. 

And Bath-sheba' bowed, and prostrated herself 
unto the king: and the king said, What wouldst 
thou? 

And she said unto him, My lord, thou thyself 
didst swear by the Lord thy God unto thy hand- 
maid, Assuredly, Solomon thy son shall reign 
after me, and only he shall sit upon my throne. 

And now, behold, Adoniyahu is become king; 
and now, my lord, O king, thou knowest it not: 

And he hath slaughtered oxen and fatted cattle 
and sheep in abundance, and hath invited all the 
sons of the king, and Ebyathar the priest, and 
Joab the captain of the army ; but Solomon thy 
servant hath he not invited. 

And as for thee, my lord, O king, the eyes of 
all Israel are upon thee, to tell them, who shall sit 
on the throne of my lord the king after him. 

Otherwise it would come to pass, when my lord 
the king sleepeth with his fathers, that I and my 
son Solomon may be counted offenders. 

And, lo, while she was yet speaking with the 
king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 

And they told the king, saying, Behold, here 
is Nathan the prophet: and when he was come in 
before the king, he prostrated himself before the 
king with his face to the ground. 

And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou 
then said, Adoniyahu shall reign after me, and 
he shall sit upon my throne? 



Pearls from the Bible. 249 

For he is gone down this day, and hath slaugh- 
tered oxen and fatted cattle and sheep in abun- 
dance, and hath invited all the king's sons, and 
the captains of the army, and Ebyathar the 
priest: and, behold, they are eating and drinking 
before him, and they say, Long live king Adoni- 
yahu. 

But as for me, me thy servant, and Zadok the 
priest, and Benayahu the son of Yehoyada', and 
thy servant Solomon, hath he not invited. 

Can it be that this hath been done by order of 
my lord the king, and thou hast not informed thy 
servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord 
the kino; after him? 

Then answered king David, and said, Call me 
Bath-sheba' : and she came into the king's pres- 
ence, and stood before the king. 

And the king swore and said, As the Lord liv- 
eth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all dis- 
tress, 

Even as I have sworn unto thee by the Lord 
the Grod of Israel, saying, Assuredly, Solomon thy 
son shall reign after me, and only he shall sit 
upon my throne in my stead : even so will I cer- 
tainly do this day. 

Then did Bath-sheba' bow herself with her face 
to the earth, and prostrated herself unto the king; 
and she said, May my lord, the king David, live 
for ever ! 

And king David said, Call unto me Zadok the 
priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benayahu 
the son of Yehoyada'. And they came before the 
king. 

And the king said unto them, Take with you 
the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my 
son to ride upon my own mule, and conduct him 
down to Gichon: 



250 Pearls from the Bible. 

And let Zadok the priest with Nathan the 
prophet anoint him there as king over Israel; and 
blow ye with the cornet, and say, Long live king 
Solomon. 

Then shall ye go up after him, and he shall 
come and sit upon my throne; and he shall be 
king in my stead: and him have I ordained to be 
ruler over Israel and over Judah. 

And Benayahu the son of Yehoyada' answered 
the king, and said, Amen: May thus say the Eter- 
nal the God of my lord the king. 

As the Eternal hath been with my lord the 
king, even so may he be with Solomon, and may 
he make his throne greater than the throne of my 
lord the king David. 

Thereupon Zadok the priest, and Nathan the 
prophet, and Benayahu the son of Yehoyada' and 
the Kerethites, and the Pelethites, went down, 
and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's 
mule, and conducted him to Gichon. 

And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out 
of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And 
they blew with the cornet; and all the people 
said, Long live king Solomon. 

And all the people went up after him, and the 
people blew on flutes, and rejoiced with great joy, 
so that the earth was rent at their noise. 

And Adoniyahu and all the guests that were 
with him heard it as they had just finished eat- 
ing: and when Joab heard the sound of the cor- 
net, he said, WherefOre is this noise of the city in 
an uproar? 

And while he was yet speaking, behold, Jona- 
than the son of Ebyathar the priesi came in : and 
Adoniyah said (unto him), Come in; for thou art 
a worthy man, and must bring good tidings. 
And Jonathan answered and said to Adoniyah, 



Pearls from the Bible. 251 

Alas, no: our lord king David hath made lo- 
mon king; 

And the king hath sent with him Zadok the 
priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benayahu 
the son of Yehoyada', and the Herethites, and 
the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride 
upon the king's mule ; 

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet 
have anointed him as king on the Gichon; and 
they are come up from there rejoicing, and the 
city hath been set in commotion. This is the 
noise that ye have heard. 

And Solomon hath also sat on the kingly throne. 

And also the king's servants are come to bless 
our lord king David, saying, May God make the 
name of Solomon more famous than thy name, 
and make his throne greater than tby throne: 
and the king hath bowed himself upon the bed. 

And also thus hath the king said, Blessed be 
the Lord the God of Israel, who hath given (me) 
this day one who sitteth on my throne, while my 
eyes see it. 

And all the guests that were with Adoniyahu 
were terrified, and rose up, and went, every man, 
on his own way. 

And Adoniyahu was afraid because of Solo- 
mon ; and he arose, and went, and caught hold 
on the horns of the altar. 

And it was told unto Solomon, saying, Behold, 
Adoniyahu feareth king Solomon ; and, behold, 
he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, 
saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to-day 
that he will not slay his servant with the sword. 

And Solomon said, If he will become a worthy 
man, there shall not a hair of his fall to the earth; 
but if any wrong shall be found on him, then 
shall he die. 



252 Pearls from the Bible. 

So king Solomon sent, and they brought him 
down from the altar ; and he came and bowed 
himself to king Solomon; and Solomon said unto 
him, G-o to thy house. 

G-od's last and best blessing to man is to die 
when his energies are exhausted, and he becomes 
helpless. Life then becomes a burden to him like 
it did to King David, whose body could not be 
kept warm, and still the old warrior and states- 
man kept his mind clear to the end. His de- 
cision that Solomon should ride on his mule to 
be proclaimed king over Israel was prompt, and 
his charge to Solomon when he vested him with 
sovereignty, " But be thou strong, and become a 
man," is worthy of King David. He knew from 
personal experience the value in being strong and 
in being a man, and to these virtues he owed 
largely his wonderful success throughout his 
great career. He was exceptionally blessed with 
a vigorous mind. What he saw he saw clearly, 
and quickly arrived at the best conclusions. His 
courage was of the truest temper that never failed 
him in the hour of peril. His nature was lovable ; 
he was always kindly disposed, not only to his 
friends, but even to his enemies. The sins that 
he committed so readily could partly be ascribed 
to the age that he lived in. It was an age of 
perfidy and levity, an age of continuous warfare, 
which even to this day greatly demoralizes the 
rulers and the people. 



Pearls from the Bible. 253 

King David was also a good hater. He hated 
beartily and implacably, as we see by ; his com- 
mand to King Solomon regarding Joab. 

And thou also knowest well what Joab. the son 
of Zeruyah hath done to me, what he did- to the 
two captains of the armies of Israel, unto Abner 
the son of Ner, and unto 'Amassa the son of 
Yether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war 
in peace, and put the blood of war upon his 
girdle that was about his loins, and on his shoes 
that were on his feet. 

Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let 
not his hoary head go down in peace to the grave. 

And, behold, thou hast with theeShim'i the son 
of Gera, the Benjamite of Bachurim, who cursed 
me with a grievous curse on the day when I went 
to Machanayim; but who came down to meet me 
at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, 
saying, I will not put thee to death with the 
sword. 

But now leave him not unpunished; for thou 
art a wise man: know then what thou oughtest 
to do unto him, and bring thou down his hoary 
head with blood to the grave. 

And David slept with his fathers, and was 
buried in the city of David. 

King David deserves a monument erected to 
his memory with the inscription : 

KING DAYID. 

MIGHTY WITH THE SWORD, 
MIGHTIER WITH THE PEN; 
BLESSED IS HIS MEMORY 
AMONG ALL NATIONS. 



c254 Pearls from the Bible. 

Then v sat Solomon upon the throne of David 
his father; and his kingdom was established 
greatly. 

And Adoniyahu the son of Chaggith came to 
JBetb-sheba' the mother of Solomon: andshesaid r 
Is thy coming for peace? And he said, For peace. 

He said moreover, I have a word for thee. And 
she said, Speak. 

And he said, Thou well knowest that mine was 
the kingdom, and that on me all Israel had set 
their faces, that I should 'reign: nevertheless the 
kingdom was turned about, and became my 
brother's; for from the Lord was it (made) his. 
And now there is one petition I am going to 
ask of thee, do not turn me away. And she said 
unto him, Speak. 

And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon 
the king, (for he will not turn thee away,) that 
he may give me Abishag the Shunammite for 
wife. 

And Bath-sheba' said, Well! I will speak for 
thee unto the king. 

Bath-sheba' thereupon went unto king Solo- 
mon, to speak unto him for Adoniyahu; and the 
king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto 
her, and then sat down on his throne, and placed 
a chair for the king's mother; and she sat on his 
right hand. 

u Then said she, There is one small petition I am 
going to ask of thee; do not turn me away. And 
the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother; for I 
will not turn thee away. 

And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be 
given to Adoniyahu thy brother for wife. 

And king Solomon answered and said unto his 
mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag tho 
Shunammite for Adoniyahu? rather ask for him 



Pearls from the Bible 255 

the kingdom; for he is my elder brother;— even 
for him, .and for Ebyathar the priest, and for Joab 
the son of Zeruyah. , 

Then swore king Solomon by the Lord, saying, 
May God do so to me, and may he thus continue, 
if Adoniyahu have riot spoken this word against 
his own life. 

And now, as the Lord liveth, who hath es- 
tablished me, and seated me on the throne of 
David my father, and who hath made me a house, 
as he hath spoken,. this very day shall Adoniyahu 
be put to death. 

And king Solomon sent by the hand of Bena- 
yahu the son of Yehoyada' ; and he fell upon him, 
so that he died. 

And unto Ebyathar the priest said the king, Go 
to 'Anathoth, unto thy own fields; for thou art a 
man worthy of death; but on this day will I not 
put thee to death ; because thou hast borne the 
ark of the Lord Eternal before David my father, 
and because thou wast afflicted in all wherein my 
father was afflicted. 

So Solomon banished Ebyathar that he should 
not be priest unto the Lord, to fulfil the word of 
the Lord which he had spoken concerning the 
house of 'Eli in Shiloh. 

And the report came to Joab ; for Joab had 
turned after Adoniyahu, though he had not turned 
after Abshalom. And Joab fled unto the taber- 
nacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns 
of the altar. 

And it was told to king Solomon that Joab had 
fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and that, 
behold, he was close by the altar. Then sent Sol- 
omon Benayahu the son of Yehoyada', saying, 
Go, fall upon him. ' 

And Benayahu came to the tabernacle of the 



256 Pearls from the Bible. 

Lord, and said unto him, Thus hath said the king, 
Come forth. And he said, No; but here will I 
die. And Benayahu brought the king word 
again, saying, Thus hath Joab spoken, and thus 
hath he answered me. 

Then said the king unto him, Do as he hath 
spoken, and fall upon him, and bury him; and 
remove (thus) the innocent blood which Joab hath 
shed, from me, and from the house of my father. 

And may the Lord bring back his blood-guilti- 
ness upon his own head, because he fell upon two 
men more righteous and better than he, and slew 
them with the sword, while my father David knew 
it not, Abner the son of Ner, the captain of the 
army of Israel, and 'Amassa the son of Yether, 
the captain of the army of Judah. 

And their blood shall return upon the head of 
Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but 
unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, 
and unto his throne, may there be peace for ev«r 
from the Lord. 

So Benayahu the son of Yehoyada' went up, 
and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was 
buried in his own house in the wilderness. 

And the king appointed Benayahu the son of 
Yehoyada' in his place over the army ; andZadok 
the priest did the king appoint in the place of 
Ebyathar. 

And the king sent and called for Shim'i, and 
said unto him, Build thee a house in Jerusalem, 
and dwell there, and thou shalt not go forth from 
there hither or thither. 

And it shall be, that on the day thou goestout, 
and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt 
know for certain that tnou shalt surely die : thy 
blood shall be upon thy own head. 

And Shim'i said unto the king, It is well: as 



Pearls from the Bible. 257 

my lord the king hath spoken, so will thy servant 
do. And Shim ; i dwelt in Jerusalem many days. 

And it came to pass at the end of three years, 
that two servants of Shim'i ran away unto Achish 
the son of Ma'achah the king of Gath: and they 
told unto Shim'i, saying, Behold, thy servants are 
in Gath. 

And Shim'i arose, and saddled his ass, and went 
to Gath to Achish to seek his servants; and 
Shim'i went and brought his servants from Gath. 

And it was told to Solomon that Shim'i had 
gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned. 

And the king sent and called for Shim'i, and 
said unto him, Did I not make thee swear by the 
Lord, and warned thee, saying, On the day thou 
goest out, and walkest abroad hither or thither, 
know for certain that thou shalt surely die? and 
thou saidst unto me, It is well, I have heard? 

Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the 
Lord, and the commandment with which I charged 
thee? 

The king said moreover to Shim'i, Thou well 
knowest all the wickedness of which thy heart is 
conscious, that thou hast done to David my 
father: and the Lord bringeth back thy wicked- 
ness upon thy own head. 

But king Solomon will be blessed, and the 
throne of David will be established before the 
Lord for ever. 

So the king commanded. Benayahu the son of 
Yehoyada', who went 'out, and fell upon him, 
so that he died. And the kingdom was established 
in the hand of Solomon. 



258 Pearls from the Bible. 

There is nothing so helpful to secure prosperity 
as to know one's mind, and to comprehend clearly 
and fully the situation, and act accordingly with 
consummate tact. King Solomon displays in his 
action that he knew his mind and comprehended 
clearly the situation in which he found his king- 
dom and the dangers that beset his throne, his 
life, the life of his good mother, and the lives of 
those leaders who sided with the party to have 
him as the king of the realm. 

His mind was made up to be the rightful suc- 
cessor of King David. Solomon knew that 
Adoniyahu and Joab were conspiring against 
him, involving the peace of the nation, and he 
acted promptly in putting the conspirators to 
death ; and by those acts secured the safety of 
his throne and the peace of the people of his 
kingdom. 

And Solomon intermarried with Pharaoh the 
king of Egypt, and took the daughter of Pharaoh, 
and brought .her into the city of David, until be 
had finished building his own house, and the 
house of- the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem 
round about. 

But the people sacrificed still on the high-places; 
because there was no house built unto the name 
of the Lord, until those days. 

And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the 
statutes of David his father: only that he sacri- 
ficed and burnt incense on the high-places. 

And the king went to Grib'on to sacrifice there; 
for that, was the great high-place: one thousand 
burnt -offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. 



Pearls fro±u the Bible. 259 

In Gib'on the Lord appeared to Solomon in a 
dream of the night: and God said, Ask what I 
shall give thee. ( i 

, And Solomon said, Thouhast shown unto thy 
servant David my father great kindness, just as 
lie walked before thee in truth, and in righteous- 
ness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and* 
thou hast kept for him this great kindness, and 
thou hast given him a son who sitteth on his 
throne, as it is this day. 

And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy 
servant king in the place of David my father : and 
I am but a young lad; I know not how to go outi 
or come in. A 

And thy servant is in the midst of thy people 
which thou hast chosen, a great people, that can- 
not be numbered nor counted for multitude. : 

' Give therefore thy servant an understanding 
heart to judge thy people, to discern between good 
and bad; for who would (otherwise) be able to 
judge this thy great people? c 

And the speech was pleasing in the eyes of the 
Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. >b 

And God said unto him, Because thou hast 
asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself 
long life; and hast not asked for thyself riches,n 
nor hast asked the life of thy enemies; but hast: 
asked for thyself discernment to understand (how 
to give) judgment : . •'.} i 

J Behold, I have done according to thy word; lop 
! have given thee a wise and a discerning heart; 
so that like unto thee there was none, before theep 
nor after thee shall any one arise like unto thefc. 

And also what thou hast not asked have I given* 
thee, both riches and honor : so that like untOt 
thee there shall not have been anyone among,tbe : 
kings all thy days. 



260 Pearls from the Bible. 

And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my 
statutes and my commandments, as thy father 
David did walk, then will I lengthen thy days. 

And Solomon awoke, and, behold, it was a 
dream; and he went to Jerusalem, and stood be- 
fore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and 
offered up burnt-offerings, and prepared peace- 
offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. 

Then came there two women that were harlots, 
unto the king, and placed themselves before him. 

And the one woman said, Pardon, my lord, I 
and this woman dwell in one house; and I was 
delivered of a child with her in the house. 

And it came to pass on the third day after I 
was delivered, that also this woman was delivered : 
and we were together, there was no stranger with 
us in the house, only we two were in the house. 

And this woman's son died in the night ; be- 
cause she had overlaid him. 

And she arose in the midst of the night, and 
took my son from beside me, while thy hand- 
maid slept, and laid him in her bosom, and her 
dead son she laid in my, bosom. 

And when I rose in the morning to give my 
son suck, behold, he was dead; but when Hooked 
at him carefully in the morning, behold, it was 
not my son, whom I had born. 

And the other woman said, It is not so ; my son 
is the living one, and thy son is the dead ; and 
this one said, It is not so; thy son is the dead, 
and my son is the living: thus they spoke before 
the king. 

Then said the king, This one saith, This is my 
son that liveth, and thy son is dead: and the 
other saith, It is not so; thy son is the dead, and 
my son is the living. 



Pearls from the Bible. 261 

And the king said, Fetch me a sword : and they 
brought the sword before the king. 

And the king said, Hew the living child in two, 
and give the one half to one, and the other half 
to the other. 

Then spoke the woman whose son was the liv- 
ing unto the king, for her love had become en- 
kindled for her son, and she said, O pardon, my 
lord, give her the living child, and only do not 
slay it; but the other said, Neither mine nor thine 
shall it be, hew it asunder. 

The king then answered and said, Give her the 
living child, and do not slay it: she is its mother. 

And when all Israel heard of the judgment 
which the king had given, they feared the king; 
for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, 
to exercise justice. 

And God gave unto Solomon wisdom and un- 
derstanding exceedingly much, and largeness of 
heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore. 

And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of 
all the children of the east country, and all the 
wisdom of Egypt. 

And he was wiser than all men ; than Ethan 
the Ezrachite, and Heman, and Kalkol, and 
Parda', the sons of Machol: and his name was 
spread among all the nations round about. 

And he spoke three thousand proverbs; and 
his songs were a thousand and five. 

And he spoke concerning the trees, from the 
cedar tree that is on the Lebanon even unto the 
hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spoke 
also concerning the beasts, and concerning the 
fowl, and concerning the creeping things, and con- 
cerning the fishes. 

And men came from all the people to hear the 



2S2 Pearls from the Bible. 

wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the 
earth, who had heard of his wisdom. 

And Hiram [Chiram] the king of Tyre sent his 
servants unto Solomon ; for he had heard that 
they had anointed him king in the room of his 
father ; for Hiram had all the time been a lover 
of David. 

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 

Thou well knowest of David my father, that he 
was not able to build a house unto the name of 
the Lord his God, on account of the war where- 
with his enemies encompassed him, until the Lord 
had put them under the soles of his feet. 

But now hath the Lord my God given me rest 
on every side, there is neither adversary nor evil 
hinderance. 

And, behold, I purpose to build a bouse unto 
the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord hath 
spoken unto David my father, saying, Thy son, 
whom I will place in thy room upon thy throne, 
he it is that shall build the house unto my name. 

And now command thou that they hew me ce- 
dar trees out of Lebanon ; and my servants shall 
be with thy servants ; and the wages of thy ser- 
vants will I give unto thee in accordance with all 
that thou wilt say; for thou well knowest that 
there is not among us a man that hath the skill 
to hew timber like unto the Zidonians. 

And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the 
words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly ; and 
he said, Blessed be the Lord this day, who hath 
given unto David a wise son over this numerous 
people. 

And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have 
heard what thou hast sent to me for: I will gladly 
execute all thy desire in respect of timber of 
cedar, and in respect of timber of fir. 



Pearls from th£ Bible. 263 

My servants shall bring theni down from the 
Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them 
by sea in floats unto the place of which thou wilt 
send me word, and I will cause them to be taken 
apart there, and thou shalt take them away ; and 
thou shalt accomplish my desire, N in giving the 
food for my household. Solomon accepted the- 
timber, began to build the Temple, and completed 
the great work within seven years. 

Among the many precious gifts that God in his 
loving kindness so graciously bestowed on man, 
there is none that outshines that gem, wisdom I 
To be wise, to have a discerning heart, is indeed 
to be blessed with God's choicest blessings. When 
Solomon prayed to God for wisdom he prayed for 
that which is the most valuable to a man in his 
career. Through wisdom and tact we can attain 
the comforts of life — wealth and honor — and leave 
behind us a fame that will be the pride of our 
posterity and even of humanity at large. 

And this was the felicity of king Solomon; 
through his great wisdom he made his reign one 
of unparalleled splendor. His decision between 
the two contending mothers for the living child, 
established his reputation for a wise and upright 
judge in Israel ; and for a ruler such a reputation 
is of the highest value and greatest importance. 

Having secured the confidence and love of the 
people, it was possible for King Solomon to turn 
his attention to the development of the resources 
of the country, and to beautify it, and enrich it 
with the grand Temple that he built for the glory 



264 Pearls from the Bible. 

of God and the great joy of Israel. The prayer 
of King Solomon at the dedication of the Temple 
is remarkable for its broad and noble feelings 
toward all humanity, and it would be wise for man- 
kind if every denomination would adopt that en- 
dearing feeling for their fellowmen, as King Solo- 
mon did on that great day — the dedication of the 
Temple at Jerusalem. 

And Solomon now placed himself before the 
altar of the Lord in the presence of all the con- 
gregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands 
toward heaven ; 

And he said, O Lord, the God of Israel, there 
is no god like thee, in the heavens above, and on 
the earth beneath, thou who keepest the covenant 
and the kindness for thy servants that walk before 
thee with all their heart; 

Who hast kept for thy servant David my father 
what thou hadst promised him ; and thou spokest 
with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thy 
hand, as it is this day. 

And now, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep, for 
thy servant David my father what thou hast 
spoken concerning him, saying, There shall never 
fail thee a man in my sight who sitteth on the 
throne of Israel ; if thy children but take heed 
to their way to walk before me, as thou hast 
walked before me. 

And now, O God of Israel, I pray thee, let thy 
word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto 
thy servant David my father. 

For in truth will God then dwell on the earth? 
behold, the heavens and the heavens of heavens 
cannot contain thee : how much less then this 
house that I have built ! 



Pearls from the Bible. 265 

Yet wilt thou turn thy regard unto the prayer 
of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord 
my God, to listen unto the entreaty and unto the 
prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee 
to-day ; 

That thy eyes may be open toward this house 
night and day, toward the place of which thou 
hast said, My name shall be there ; that thou 
mayest listen unto the prayer which thy servant 
shall pray at this place. 

And listen thou to the supplication of thy ser- 
vant, and of thy people Israel, which they will 
pray at this place : and oh, do thou hear in heaven 
thy dwelling-place ; and hear, and forgive. 

If any man trespass against his neighbor, and 
an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, 
and the oath come before thy altar in this house: 
Then do thou hear in heaven, and act, and 
judge thy servants, by condemning the wicked, 
to bring his way upon his head ; and by justifying 
the righteous, to give him according to his right- 
eousness. 

When thy people Israel are struck down before 
the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, 
and they return then to thee, and confess thy 
name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee 
in this house : 

Then do thou hear in heaven, and forgive the 
sin of thy people Israel, and cause them to return 
unto the land which thou hast given unto their 
fathers. 

When the heavens be shut up, and there be no 
rain, because they have sinned against thee, and 
they pray toward this place, and confess thy 
name, and turn from their sin, because thou hast 
afflicted them : 

Then do thou hear in heaven, and forgive the 



26G Pearls from the Bible. 

sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel; for 
thou wilt teach them the good way wherein they 
should walk ; and give then rain upon thy land, 
which thou hast given to thy people for an inher- 
itance. 

If there be famine in the land, if there be pes- 
tilence, blasting, mildew, or if there be locust, 
caterpillar, if their enemy besiege them in the 
land in their gates ; at whatsoever plague, what- 
soever sickness; 

What prayer and supplication soever be made 
by any man, of all thy people Israel, when they 
shall be conscious every man of the plague of his 
own heart, and he then spread forth his hands to- 
ward this house : 

Then do thou hear in heaven the place of thy 
dwelling, and forgive, and act, and give to every 
man in accordance with all his ways, as thou 
mayest know his heart ; for thou, thyself alone, 
knowest the heart of all the children of men ; 

In order that they may fear thee all the days 
that they live on the face of the land which thou 
hast given unto our fathers. 

. But also to the stranger, who is not of thy 
people Israel, but cometh out of a far-off country 
for the sake of thy name ; 

For they will hear of thy great name, and of 
thy strong hand, and of thy outstretched arm ; 
when he will come and pray at this house : 

Mayest thou listen in heaven the place of thy 
dwelling, and do according to all that the stranger 
will call on thee for; in order that all the nations 
of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as^ 
(do) thy people Israel; and that they may under- 
stand that this house, which I have built, is called 
by thy name; 
•If thy people go out to battle against their 



Pearls from the Bible. 267 

enemy, on the way on which thou mayest send 
them, and they do pray unto the Lord in the di- 
rection of the city which thou hast chosen, and of 
the house that I have built for thy name : 

Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and 
their supplication, and procure them justice. 

If they sin against thee, (for there is no man 
that may not sin,) and thou be angry with them, 
-and give them up before the enemy, so that their 
captors carry them away captive unto the land of 
the enemy, (be it) far or near; 

And. if they, then take it to their heart in the 
4and whither they have been carried captive, and 
repent, and make supplication unto thee in the 
land of their captors, saying, We have sinned, and 
have committed iniquity, we have acted wick- 
edly; 

And they return unto thee with all their heart, 
and with all their soul, in the iand of their ene- 
mies, who have led them away captive, and they 
pray unto thee in the direction of their land, 
which thou hast given unto their fathers, of the 
eity which thou hast chosen, and of the house 
which I have built for thy name : 

Then hear thou in heaven the place of thy 
dwelling their prayer and their supplication, and 
procure them justice; 

And forgive thy people for what they have 
sinned against thee, and all their transgressions 
whereby they have transgressed against thee, and 
cause them to find mercy before their captors, 
that they may have mercy on them; 

For they are thy people, and thy heritage, 
whom thou hast brought forth out of Egypt, 
from the midst of the iron furnace; 

That thy eyes may be open unto the supplica- 
tion of thy servant, and unto the supplication of 



268 Pearls from the Bible. 

thy people- Israel, to listen unto thein in all for 
which they call unto thee; 

For thou hast separated them unto thee as a 
heritage from all the people of the earth, as thou 
spokest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when 
thou broughtest forth our fathers out of Egypt, 
O Lord Eternal. 

And it happened, that, when Solomon had 
made an end of praying all this prayer and sup- 
plication unto the Lord, he arose from before the 
altar of the Lord from kneeling on his knees, 
with his hands spread out toward heaven. 

And he stood up, and blessed all the congrega- 
tion of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 

Blessed be the Lord, who hath given rest unto 
his people Israel, in accordance with all that he 
hath spoken: (so that) there hath not failed one 
word of all his good promise, which he spoke by 
the hand of Moses his servant. 

The Lord our God be with us, as he was with 
our fathers; oh may he not leave us, nor forsake 
us; 

That he may incline our heart unto him, to 
walk in all his ways, and to keep his command- 
ments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, which 
he commanded our fathers. 

And may these my words, wherewith I have 
made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto 
the Lord our God day and night, that he may 
maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause 
of his people Israel in their daily requirements; 

In order that all the nations of the earth may 
know that the Lord is the (true) God, and none 
else. 

Let your heart therefore be entire with the 
Lord your God, to walk in his statutes, and to 
keep his commandments, as at this day. 



Pearls from the Bible. 269 

And the king, and all Israel with him, offered 
sacrifices before the Lord. 

And Solomon offered (as) the sacrifice of peace- 
offering which he offered unto the Lord, two and 
twenty thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty 
thousand sheep. And thus did the king and all 
the children of Israel dedicate the house of the 
Lord. 

On the same clay did the king hallow the in- 
terior of the court that was before the house of 
the Lord; for he prepared there the burnt-offer- 
ings, and the meat-offerings, and the fat of the 
peace-offerings; because the copper altar that was 
before the Lord was too small to contain the 
burnt-offerings, and the meat offerings, and the 
fat of the peace-offerings. 

And Solomon held at that time .the feast, and 
all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the 
entrance of Chamath unto the river of Egypt, 
before the Lord our God, seven days and seven 
days, even fourteen days. 

On the eighth day he dismissed the people, and 
they blessed the king; and they went unto their 
tents joyful and glad of heart, because of all the 
good that the Lord had done for David his ser- 
vant, and for Israel his people. 

One of the most notable events in the his- 
tory of the Israelites was the dedication of the 
Temple at Jerusalem. The whole nation rejoiced 
at the great work accomplished for the glory of 
Grod. From that happy day the Temple at Jeru- 
salem was made the center of attraction to all the 
people of the land. To worship there was one of 
the great joys of life. Thousands from every 



270 Pearls from the Bible. 

part of the country were happy at going therefor 
devotion to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 
and give thanks and adoration to Him who is our 
Heavenly Father, our bounteous giver of all that 
is good to soul and body. 

No sacrifice was too great to give vent to those 
grateful feelings at the Temple of the Lord. This 
explains clearly the sacrifice of twenty-two thou- 
sand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand 
sheep at the dedication. At that period of history 
oxen and sheep had a far greater value to man 
than now, as oxen were largely the beasts of 
burden, not only to help to till tha soil, but also 
in the transportation of merchandise. A yoke of 
oxen therefore had a great value, and so had 
sheep, on account of their wool for clothing, as 
cotton was then unknown. And, notwithstand- 
ing the great value of the oxen and sheep, twenty- 
two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty 
thousand sheep were slaughtered as a peace- 
offering. 

Religion demands sacrifices in order to curb the 
selfishness in the nature of man. Only by brid- 
ling selfishness can the nobleness in man's nature 
thrive. As a rule, a man or a woman without re- 
ligion is extremely selfish, and that selfishness 
hardens their hearts, and which eventually clouds 
their judgments. This hinders their prosperity 
in the long run, and consumes their happiness. 
They are not in touch with Grod and mankind. 
Their extreme selfishness makes them resembU 



Pearls from the Bible. 271 

a solitary oak on the plain, without branches and 
without leaves, withered, and ready to break 
down at the first onslaught of the storm. 

Not so is that man or that woman who is re- 
ligious, who communes with God in his home or 
in the midst of the congregation j by that blessed 
course his spiritual existence receives nourish- 
ment in the same manner as his physical part 
receives nourishment from water and the food he 
consumes. 

The Israelites were and are pre-eminently re- 
ligious. No sacrifice was too great for them to 
bear for the sake of their religion. They de- 
fended the Temple at Jerusalem with unparalleled 
heroism, a heroism that is the admiration of the 
world. It required the entire strength of the 
.Roman Empire to defeat them, to capture their 
country, to send them into exile; but they were 
not conquered, they remained Israelites, the same 
heroic people to whom no sacrifice was too great 
to make for the sake of their religion. Their re- 
ligious life to keep in touch with Grod and man- 
kind maintained them vigorous in soul and body 
under the most cruel oppression. Their tor- 
mentors perished, and are forgotten; but Israel 
still lives and prospers in every clime and under 
every form of government. They are beneficially 
felt in the arteries of commerce of the world and 
in the world of thought. 

They still make history every day, because 
they still are the advance guard of civilization,. 



272 Pearls from the Bible. 

proclaiming that there is only one God and one 
common brotherhood ; that peace and good will 
shall rule among all men, who shall sing in one 
grand chorus the glory of Grod ; holy is his name, 
and man should be holy and live in j^eace. Every 
individual, of whatever race or creed, should be 
given the broadest opportunity, unhindered, to 
better his condition and enjoy, with its responsi- 
bilities, the sweets of life. Let us make childhood 
especially happy. Happy children make a happy 
home, and happy homes make a happy country, 
happy countries make a happy world. 

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the 
fame of Solomon in connection with the name of 
the Lord, she came to prove him with riddles. 

And she came to Jerusalem with an exceedingly 
great train, with camels b'earing spices, and gold 
in great abundance, and precious stones: and 
when she was come to Solomon, she spoke with 
him of all that was on her heart. And Solomon 
solved her all her questions : nothing remained 
hidden from the king, which he did not tell her. 

And when the queen of Sheba saw all Solo- 
mon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 

And the food of his table, and the sitting of 
his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, 
and their apparel, and his cup-bearers, and his as- 
cent by which he went up into the house of the 
Lord: there was no more spirit in her. 

And she said to the king, The truth only was 
the word that I heard in my own land of thy acts 
and of thy wisdom. 

And I believed not in the words, until I came, 
and my eyes saw (all) : and, behold, the half hath 



Pearls from the Bible. 273 

not been told me ; thou excellest in wisdom and 
prosperity the report which I have heard. 

Happy are thy men, happy are these thy ser- 
vants, who stand before thee continually, who 
hear thy wisdom. 

Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath had 
delight in thee, to place thee on the throne of 
Israel; because the Lord loveth Israel forever, 
therefore hath he made thee king, to do justice 
and righteousness. 

And she gave to the king one hundred and twenty 
talents of gold, and of spices a very great store, 
and precious stones: there came no more spices 
in such abundance as these which the queen of 
Sheba gave to king Solomon. 

And also the ship of Hiram, that fetched gold 
from Ophir, brought in from Ophir in great 
abundance sandal-wood and precious stones. 

And the king made of the sandal-wood a rail- 
ing for the house of the Lord, and for the king's 
house, and harps and psalteries for the singers : 
there came no such sandal-wood, nor was it seen 
(again) until this day. 

And king Solomon gave unto the queen of 
Sheba all her pleasure, whatsoever she asked, be- 
side what Solomon gave her of bis royal bounty. 
So she turned about and w T ent to her own country, 
she and her servants. 

Now the weight of the gold that came to Solo- 
mon in one year was six hundred and sixty and 
six talents of gold, 

Beside what he had of the traveling tradesman, 
and of the traffic of the merchants, and of all the 
kings of confederate nations, and of the governors 
of the country. 

And king Solomon made two hundred targets 



274 Pearls from the Bible 

of beaten gold : six hundred shekels of gold he 
used for each one target. 

And (he made) three hundred shields of beaten 
gold ; three manehs of gold he used for each one 
shield: and the king put them in the house of 
the forest of Lebanon. 

The king also made a great throne of ivory, 
and overlaid it with the best gold. 

The throne had six steps, and there was a round 
top on the throne behind ; and there were arms 
on either side on the place of the seat, and two 
lions stood beside the arms. 

And twelve lions stood there upon the six steps 
on both sides : there was not the like made in any 
other kingdom. 

And all king Solomon's drinking- vessels were 
of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the 
forest of Lebanon were of pure gold ; none were 
of silver ; it was not valued in the days of Solo- 
mon at the least. 

For the king had a Tharshish-ship at sea with 
the ship of Hiram: once in three years the Thar- 
shish-ship used to come home, laden with gold, 
and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 

And king Solomon became greater than all the 
kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. 

And (men of) all the earth sought the presence 
of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had 
put in his heart. 

And they brought every man his present, ves- 
sels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, 
and armour, and spices, horses, and mules : and so 
year by year. 

And Solomon gathered together chariots and 
horsemen : and he had a thousand and four hun- 
dred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, 



Pearls from the Bible. 275 

,whom he quartered in the cities for chariots, and 
near the king at Jerusalem. 

And the king rendered the silver in Jerusalem 
like stones, and the cedars he rendered like the 
"sycamore trees that are in the lowlands, for abun- 
dance. 

And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt; 
and a company of the king's merchants bought a 
quantity at a price. 

And a chariot-team came up and went out of 
Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a 
horse for a hundred and fifty: and so for all the 
kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, 
did they bring them out by their means. 

At the time when the Queen of Sheba paid 
King Solomon a visit was the most prosperous 
period in his reign. Her words, "my eyes saw 
all: and, behold, the half hath not been told me; 
thou excellest in wisdom and prosperity the re- 
port which I have heard." 

In these remarks we have indeed ample evi- 
dence of Solomon's wisdom and the great pros- 
perity prevailing as Queen Sheba came, as a skep- 
tic, doubting the reports of King Solomon's wis- 
dom and prosperity. 

It is related that on one occasion Queen Sheba 
presented herself at the foot of the throne of the 
poetical King Solomon ; in each hand she held a 
wreath; the one was composed of natural, and 
the other of artificial flowers. Art, in the labor 
of the wreath, had exquisitely emulated the lively/ 
hues of nature, so that, at the distance it was 



276 Pearls from the Bible. 

held by the Queen for inspection of the King, it 
was impossible for him to decide, as to her ques- 
tion imparted, i; which wreath was the production 
of nature, and which the work of art?*' The sa- 
gacious Solomon seemed perplexed ; yet to be 
vanquished by a trifle, by a trifling woman, irri- 
tated his pride. The son of David, he who had 
written treatises on the vegetable productions, 
from the cedar to the hissop, to acknowledge him- 
self outwitted by a woman with shreds of paper 
and glazed paintings ! The honor of the mon- 
arch's reputation for divine sagacity seemed de- 
minished, and the whole Israelitish court looked 
solemn and melancholy. At length an expedient 
presented itself to the King — and it must be con- 
fessed worthy of the naturalist observing a cluster 
of bees hovering about a window. He commanded 
it to be opened : it was opened ; the bees rushed 
into the court, and alighted immediately on the- 
natural wreath, while not a single one fixed on 
the other. The baffled Sheba had one more reason 
to be astonished at the wisdom of Solomon. 

But king Solomon loved many strange women, 
beside the daughter of Pharaoh, women of th& 
^loabites. 'Ammonites. Edomites. Zidonians, and 
Hittites. 

From the nations concerning which the Lord 
had said unto the children of Israel, Te shall not 
go in among them, nor shall they come in among 
you ; surely they will turn away your heart after 
their gods: unto these Solomon did cleave to love 
them. 



Pearls from the Bible. 277 

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, 
and three hundred concubines : and his wives 
turned away his heart. 

And it came to pass, at the time that Solomon 
was old, that his wives turned away his heart 
after other gods; and his heart was not undivided 
with the Lord his God, like the heart of David 
his father. 

And Solomon went after 'Ashthoreth the divin- 
ity of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abom- 
ination of the 'Ammonites. 

And Solomon did what is evil in the eyes of 
the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, like 
David his father. 

Then did Solomon build a high-place for &e- 
mosb, the abomination of Moab, on the mount 
that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the 
abomination of the children of 'Amnion. 

And so did he for all his strange wives, who 
burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 

And the Lord was angry with Solomon ; be- 
cause his heart was turned away from the Lord 
the Grod of Israel, who had appeared unto him 
twice ; 

And had commanded him concerning this thing, 
that he should not go after other gods , but he did 
not keep that which the Lord had commanded. 

And the -Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch 
as this in thy mind, and thou hast not kept my 
covenant and my statutes, which I commanded 
concerning thee: I will surely rend the kingdom 
from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 

Nevertheless in thy days will I not do it, for 
the sake of David thy father ; (but) out of the 
hand of thy son will I rend it. 

Still all the kingdom will I not rend away : one 
tribe will I give to thy son on account of David 



278 Pearls from the Bible. 

my servant, and on account of Jerusalem which 
I have chosen. 

And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto- 
Solomon, Hadad the Edomite : he was of the 
king's seed in Edom ; 

It came to pass, namely, when David was in 
Edom, when Joab the captain of the army was 
gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten, 
every male in Edom; 

(For six months did Joab remain there with all 
Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom;). 

That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites-of 
his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; 
but Hadad was then yet a youDg lad. 

And they arose from Midian, and came to 
Paran ; and they took (some) men with them 
from Paran, and came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh 
the king ot Egypt; who gave him a house, and, 
decreed him a support, and gave him land. 

And Hadad found great favor in the eyes of 
Pharaoh, so that he gave him for wife the sister 
of his own wife, the sister of Thachpeness the 
queen. 

And the sister of Thachpeness bore him Genu- 
bath his son, whom Thachpeness brought up in 
Pharaoh's house; and Genubath remained in 
Pharaoh's house, among the sons of Pharaoh. 

:'And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David 
slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain 
of the army was dead : Hadad said to Pharaoh, , . 
Dismiss me, that I may go to my own country. 

Then said Pharaoh unto him, But what doest; 
thou lack with me, that, behold, thou seekest to 
go to thy own country? And he answered, 
Nothing : nevertheless thou must let me go 
away. 

And G-od stirred him up another adversary, v 



Pearls from the Bible. 279 

Hezon the son of Elyada', who had fled from 
Hadad'ezer the king of Zobah his lord; 

And he gathered around him some men, and 
became captain over a band, when David slew 
those (of Zobah); and they went to Damascus, 
and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. 

And he was an adversary to Israel all the days 
of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did : 
and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. 

Also Jerobo'am [Yarob'am] the son of Nebat, 
an Ephrathite of Zeredah, the name of whose 
mother was Zeru'ah, a widow woman, was a ser- 
vant of Solomon, and he lifted up his hand 
against the king. 

And this was the occasion that he lifted up his 
hand against the king: Solomon built up the 
Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of 
David his father. 

And the man Jerobo'am was a mighty man of 
valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that 
he was (also) an industrious worker, he appointed 
him over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 

And it came to pass at that time when Jerobo- 
'am went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet 
Achiyah the Shilonite found him on the way* 
and he had clad himself with a new garment; 
and these two were alone by themselves in the 
field ; 

And Achiyah caught hold of the new garment 
lhat was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces ; 

And he said to Jerobo'am, Take thee ten pieces; 
for thus hath said the Lord the God of Israel, 
Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand 
of Solomon, and I will give to thee the ten 
tribes ; 

But the one tribe shall remain for him, on ac^ 
count of my servant David, and on account of 



280 Pearls from the Bible. 

Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of 
all the tribes of Israel; 

For the cause that they have forsaken me, and 
have bowed down to 'Ashthoreth the divinity of 
the Zidonians, to Kemosh the god of Moab, and 
to Milcom the G-od of the children of 'Ammon, 
and have not walked in my ways, to do what is 
right in my eyes, and my statutes and my ordi- 
nances, like David his father. 

Nevertheless will I not take the whole kingdom 
out of his hand; but I will let him remain prince 
all the days of his life for the sake of David my 
servant, whom I chose, who kept my command- 
ments and my statutes ; 

But I will take the kingdom out of the hand 
of his son, and I will give it unto thee, even the 
ten tribes. 

And unto his son will I give one tribe; so that 
there may remain a government, for David my 
servant at all times before me in Jerusalem, the 
city which I have chosen for me, to put my name 
there. 

But thee will I take, and thou shalt reign over 
all that thy soul may long for ; and thou shalt be 
king over Israel. 

And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all 
that I shall command thee, and wilt walk in my 
ways, and do what is right in my eyes, to koep 
my statutes and my commandments, as David my 
servant did : that I will be with thee, and build 
thee a permanent house, as I have built for David, 
and I will give Israel unto thee. 

And I will afflict the seed of David for this ; 
but not for all times. 

Solomon thereupon sought to put Jerobo'am to 
death ; but Jerobo'am arose, and fled into Egypt, 



Pearls from the Bible. 281 

unto Shishak the king of Egypt, and he re- 
mained in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 

And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all 
that he did, and his wisdom, behold, they are 
written in the book of the history. of Solomon. 

And the days that Solomon reigned in Jerusa- 
lem over all Israel were forty years. 

And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was 
buried in the city of David his father : and Re- 
hobo'am [Rechab'am] his son became king in his 
stead. 

Solomon was a wise man, bat not wise enough 
to keep his passions in check. It was a folly to 
encumber himself with seven hundred wives, 
princesses at that — the most capricious creatures 
on earth — and also with three hundred concu- 
bines, the most deceitful beings that exist. That 
they turned away his heart is no wonder, but the 
wonder is that they did not dethrone his reason 
entirely and make him a lunatic. 

To keep up such an establishment, as one thou- 
sand women in stately style required, and all of 
whom had a claim on his affections and on his 
treasures, is enough to exhaust the energy and 
the wisdom of any man, and also the wealth that 
the rich mines of Ophir could produce. 

The reign of King Solomon was one of the 
most marvelous splendor, but it impoverished the 
people of Israel, causing discontent, discord that 
divided the kingdom, and which eventually de- 
stroyed Israel as a nation, but not as a people with 
a great mission. This mission is to convert all 



282 Pearls from the Bible. 

the nations to worship one God, the God of the 
universe, the Father of mankind and its gracious 
Redeemer. 

This ennobling belief leads every man to a purer 
and a holier life, for it convinces him that he is 
indeed born in the image of God, and by divine 
appointment the lord over all creation between 
heaven and earth. 

What a great heritage to be born in the image 
of God, and to be the lord, and have dominion 
over all that exists. Noble reader, think of it 
and ponder over it, of your nobility, to be born 
in the image of God and the Lord, or, in clearer 
words, God's representative on earth, to beautify 
it, and rule all with wisdom that borders on di- 
vinity. 

As a child of the Great Spirit, whom we call 
God, it is your imperative duty nut to beatrifler, 
but an earnest toiler in whatsoever occupation 
you are engaged. Do your work honestly and 
to the best of your ability, for the glory of God, 
who has endowed you, for your own glory and the 
benefit of mankind. 

Be sincere in your fear and love of God. Be a 
loyal son, a lovable husband, a thoughtful father, 
a good neighbor, and a dutiful citizen, whose 
presence inspires confidence, because you are 
earnest in your endeavors, and therefore not a 
trifler. 

And King Solomon died and was gathered to 
his fathers; but his songs and proverbs live and 



Pearls from the Bible. 283 

will live as long as man will aim to acquire wis- 
dom as the best equipment to conquer the most 
difficult problems that surround us in our onward 
march to nobler achievements. 

The proverbs of Solomon are helpful thoughts 
to young and old. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of 
knowledge : wisdom and instruction fools (alone) 
despise. 

Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, 
and cast not off the teaching of thy mother ; 

For a wreath of grace are they unto thy head, 
and chains for thy throat. 

My son, if sinners wish to entice thee, consent 
thou not. 

Let kindness and truth not forsake thee; bind 
them about thy throat ; write them upon the 
table of thy heart : 

So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the 
eyes of G-od and man. 

Be not wise in thy own eyes : fear the Lord, 
and depart from evil. 

Happy the man that hath found wisdom, and 
the man that acquireth understanding. 

For the obtaining of her is better than the ob- 
taining of silver, and better than fine gold is her 
product. 

She is more precious than pearls ; and all the 
things thou valuest are not equal unto her. 

Length of days is in her right hand: in her 
left are riches and honor. 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her 
paths are peace. 

A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on 



284 Pearls from the Bible. 

her : and every one that firmly graspeth her will 
he made happy. 

The Lord hath through wisdom founded the 
earth : he hath established the heavens through 
understanding. 

By his knowledge were the depths split open, 
and the skies drop down the dew. 

My son, let them not be removed from thy 
eyes; keep (before thee) sound wisdom and dis- 
cretion : 

And they will be life unto thy soul, and grace 
to thy throat. 

Then wilt thou walk in safety on thy way, and 
thy foot will not strike (against aught) : 

When thou layest thyself down, thou shalt feel 
no dread ; and as thou liest down, thy sleep shall 
be pleasant. 

For the Lord will be thy confidence, and he will 
guard thy foot from being caught. 

Withhold not a benefit from him who is deserv- 
ing it, when it is in the power of thy hand to 
do it. 

Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and return, and 
to-morrow will 1 give : when thou hast it by 
thee. 

Contrive not against thy neighbor any evil, 
when he dwelleth in safety with thee. 

Quarrel not with any man without cause, if he 
have done thee no harm. 

Envy not the man of violence, and choose none 
of his ways. 

For the froward is an abomination to the Lord; 
but with the upright is his good-will. 

The curse of the Lord is in the house of the 
wicked ; but the habitation of the righteous will 
he bless. 

If (it concern) the scornful, he will himself 



Pearls from the Bible. 285 

render them a scorn ; but unto the lowly doth he 
give grace. 

The wise shall inherit glory ; but fools shall ob- 
tain disgrace as their portion. 

My son, attend unto my wisdom : to my under- 
standing incline thou thy ear: 

That thou mayest observe discretion, and that 
thy lips may keep knowledge. 

For as of fine honey drop the lips of an adul- 
terous woman, and smoother than oil is her palate ; 

But her end is bitter as wormwood, it is sharp 
as a two-edged sword. 

Her feet go down to death, her steps take firm 
hold on the nether world : 

So that she cannot balance the path of life; her 
tracks are unsteady, and she knoweth it not. 

And now. O ye children, hearken unto me, and 
depart not from the sayings of my mouth. 

.Remove far from her thy way, and come not 
nigh to the door of her house ; 

That thou mayest not give up unto others thy 
vigor, and thy years unto the cruel ; 

That strangers may not satisfy themselves with 
thy strength, and with thy exertions, in the house 
of an alien : 

While thou moanest at thy end, when thy flesh 
and thy body are coming to their end. 

And thou gayest " How have I hated correction, 
and how hath my heart rejected reproof; 

While 1 hearkened not to the voice of my in- 
structors, and to my teachers I inclined not my 
ear ; 

But little more was wanting, and I had been 
in all (kinds of) unhappiness in the midst of the 
congregation and assembly." 

Drink water out of thy own cistern, and run- 
ning waters out of thy own well : 



2 86 Pearls from the Bible. 

So will thy springs overflow abroad ; and in 
the open streets will be thy rivulets of water; 

They will be thy own only, and not those of 
strangers with thee. 

Thy fountain will be blessed ; and rejoice with 
the wife of thy youth, — 

The lovely gazelle and the graceful chamois : 
let her bosom satisfy thee abundantly at all times; 
with her love be thou ravished conticually. 

And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with 
an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of an alien 
woman? 

For before the eyes of the Lord are the ways 
of man, and all his tracks doth he weigh in the 
balance. 

His own iniquities will truly catch the wicked , 
and with the cords of his sin will he be held 
firmly. 

He will indeed die for want of correction ; and 
through the abundance of his folly will he sink 
into error. 

My son, if thou hast become surety for thy 
friend, if thou hast struck thy hand for a stranger: 

If thou art ensnared through the words of thy 
mouth, if thou art caught through the words of 
thy mouth : 

(Then) do this by all means, my son, and de- 
liver thyself, because thou art come into the power 
of thy friend. Go hasten to him, and urge thy 
friend. 

Grant not any sleep to thy eyes, nor slumber to 
thy eyelids. 

Deliver thyself as a roebuck from the hand (of 
the hunter), and as a bird from the hand of the 
fowler. 

Go to the ant, thou sluggard ! look on her ways, 
and become wise. 



Pearls from the Bible. 287 

She, that hath no prince, officer, or ruler, 

Provideth in the summer her provision, gather 
cth in harvest-time her food. 

How long, O sluggard, wilt thou lie down? 
when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 

"A little (more) sleep, a little slumber, a little 
folding of the hands in lying down;" 

But then will thy poverty come like a rover, 
and thy want as a man armed with a shield. 

A godless person is a man of injustice, who 
walketh with a distorted mouth. 

He blinketh with his eyes, he scrapeth with his 
feet, he pointeth with his fingers; 

Perverseness is in his heart, he contriveth evil 
at all times; he scattereth abroad discord. 

Therefore shall suddenly come his calamity : 
unawares shall he be broken without a remedy. 

Six things there are which the Lord hateth : 
and seven are an abomination unto his spirit : 

Haughty eyes, a tongue of falsehood, and hands 
that shed innocent blood, 

A heart that contriveth plans of injustice, feet 
that hasten to run after evil, 

A false witness that eagerly uttereth lies, and 
him that scattereth abroad discord among breth- 
ren. 

Keep, my son, the commandment of thy 
fathei, and reject not the teaching of thy mother: 

Bind them upon thy heart continually, tie them 
about thy throat. 

When thou walkest, it shall lead thee ; when 
thou liest down, it shall watch over thee; and 
when thou art awake, it shall converse with thee. 

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law 
is light ; and the ways of life are the admonitions 
of correction : 



288 Pearls from the Bible. 

To guard thee against a bad woman, from the 
flattery of an alien tongue. 

Covet not her beauty in thy heart, and let her 
not conquer thee with her e}-elid8. 

For by means of a harlot (one is brought down) 
to the last loaf of bread: and an adulterous 
woman will even hunt for the precious life. 

Can a man gather up fire in his lap, and shall 
his clothes not be burned ? 

Can a man walk along upon hot coals, and shall 
his feet not be burned? 

So it is with him that goeth in to his neighbor's 
wife: no one that toucheth her shall remain un- 
punished. 

Men do not despise the thief, if he steal, to 
gratify his craving when he is hungry : 

And if he be found, he must pay seven-fold ; 
all the wealth of his house must he give. 

But whoso committeth adultery with a woman 
lacketh sense : he that is the destroyer of his soul, 
will alone do this. 

Plague and disgrace will he meet with; and his 
reproach will not be blotted out. 

For jealousy is the fury of a husband, and he 
will not spare on the day of vengeance. 

He will not regard the appearance of any ran- 
som ; and he will not be content, though thou 
give ever so many bribes. 

My son, observe my sayings, and my command- 
ments must thou treasure up with thee. 

Observe my commandments, and live: and my 
teaching as the apple of thy eyes. 

Bind them around thy fingers, write them upon 
the table of thy heart. 

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call 
understanding thy kinswoman ; 

That they may keep tbee from an adulterous 



Pearls from the Bible. 289 

woman, from an alien that useth nattering 
speeches. 

For through the window of my house, through 
my lattice did I (once) look out, 

And I beheld among the simple ones, I dis- 
cerned among the youths, a lad void of sense ; 

He was passing through the market-place near 
her corner ; and he stepped along on the way to 
her house, 

In the twilight, in the evening of the day, in 
the depth, of the night and when it was dark : 

And,. behold, a woman came to meet him with 
the attire of a harlot, and obdurate of heart. 

(She is noisy and ungovernable; in her house 
her feet never rest ; 

At one time she is in the street, at another in 
the open places, and near every corner doth she 
lurk,) 

And she caught hold of him, and kissed him, 
and with an impudent face she said to him, 

"I had bound myself to bring peace-offerings; 
this day have I paid my vows: 

Therefore am I come forth to meet thee, to seek 
thy presence diligently, and I have found thee. 

With tapestry coverings have I decked my bed, 
with embroidered coverlids of the fine linen of 
Egypt, 

I have sprinkled my couch with myrrh, aloes, 
and cinnamon. 

Come, let us indulge in love until the morning: 
let us delight ourselves with dalliances. 

For the man is not in his house, he is gone on 
a journey a great way off: 

The bag of money hath he taken with him, by 
the day of the new-moon festival only will he 
come home." 



290 Pearls from the Bible. 

She seduced him by the abundance of her 
reasoning : by the flattery of her lips she mis- 
guided him. 

He followed after her suddenly, as an ox goeth 
to the slaughter, and as in fetters to his correc- 
tion, the fool : 

Till an arrow cleaveth through his liver; as a 
bird hasteneth into the snare, and knoweth not 
that it is done to take his life. 

And now, children, hearken unto me, and 
listen to the sayings of my mouth. 

Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways, do 
not go astray on her paths. 

For many deadly wounded hath she caused to 
fall : yea, very numerous are all those slain by 
her. 

The ways to the nether world is her house, 
leading down to the chambers of death. 

The wise in heart will accept commandments; 
but he that is a fool in his speaking will stumble. 

He that walketh uprightly ever walketh se- 
curely; but he that perverteth his ways will be 
punished. 

He that winketh with the eye causeth vexation; 
and he that is & too! in his speaking will stumble. 

A source of life is the mouth of the righteous: 
but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence. 

Hatred stirreth up strifes ; but love throweth 
a cover over all transgressions. 

On the lips of the man of understanding there 
is found wisdom ; but a rod is for the back of him 
that is void of sense. 

Wise men treasure up knowledge ; but the 
mouth of the foolish is an approaching terror. 

The wealth of the rich man is his strong town; 
the terror of the poor is their poverty. 



Pearls from the Bible. 291 

The labor of the righteous (tendeth) to life : 
the product of the wicked is for sin. 

On the way unto life is he that observeth cor- 
rection ; but he that forsaketh reproof is in error. 

He that hideth hatred hath lips of falsehood ; 
and he that spreadeth abroad an evil report is a 
fool. 

In a multitude of words transgressions cannot 
be avoided ; but he that refraineth his lips is in- 
telligent. 

(Like) choice silver is the tongue of the right- 
eous; the heart of the wicked is worth but very 
little. 

The lips of the righteous feed many; but fools 
die through lack of sense. 

As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke is to 
the eyes : so is the sluggard to those that send 
him. 

The lips of the righteous know (how to obtain) 
favor ; but the mouth of the wicked (speaketh) 
perverseness. 

The wise among women buildeth her house ; 
but the foolish pulleth it down with her own 
hands. 

Where no oxen are, is the crib clean ; but the 
abundance of harvests is (only) through the 
strength of the ox. 

The backslider in heart will have enough of his 
own ways ; and from him (departeth) the good 
man. 

He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but 
he that is gracious to the poor — happiness attend 
him ! 

Behold, those who contrive evil are in error ; 
but kindness and truth attend on those who con- 
trive what is good. 



292 Pearls from the Bible. 

In all painful labor there is profit ; but mere 
words of the lips (lead) only to want. 

In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence 
(of man), and unto his children will it be a place 
of shelter. 

In the multitude of people is the king's glory; 
but in the want of a population is the downfall 
of the prince. 

A sound heart is the life of the body; but jeal- 
ousy is the rottenness of the bones. 

Righteousness exalteth a people: but the dis- 
grace of nations is sin. 

A soft answer turneth away fury ; but a mor- 
tifying word stirreth up anger. 

The tongue of the wise maketh knowledge ac- 
ceptable ; but the mouth of fools sputtereth out 
folly. 

In every place are the eyes of the Lord, look- 
ing on the bad and the good. 

A healing word of the tongue is a tree of life ; 
but perverseness therein is a breach to the spirit. 

A fool condemneth the correction of his father ; 
but he that observeth admonition will become 
prudent. 

In the house of the righteous there is much 
treasure ; but in the income of the wicked is 
trouble. 

The lips of the wise scatter knowledge; but the 
heart of fools is not reliable. 

A scorner loveth not that one should admonish 
him: unto the wise doth he not go. 

The heart of the man of understanding seeketh 
knowledge ; but the mouth of fools feedeth on 
folly. 

All the days of the afflicted are evil ; but he 
that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast. 



Pearls from the Bible. 293 

Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than 
great treasure and confusion therewith. 

Better is an allowaDce of herbs when love is 
there, than a stall-fed ox and hatred therewith. 

A man of fury stirreth up strife ; but he that 
is slow to anger assuageth contention. 

The way of the slothful man is like a hedge of 
thorns; but the path of the upright is a levelled 
(road). 

A wise son causeth his father to rejoice ; but a 
foolish man despiseth his mother. 

Plans are frustrated without consultation ; but 
through a multitude of counsellors canst thou 
maintain thyself. 

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth ; 
and a word (spoken) at the proper time, how good 
is it! 

He that is greedy after gain troubleth his own 
house; but he that hateth gifts will live. 

(What is pleasant to) the light of the eyes re- 
joiceth the heart: a good report giveth marrow 
to the bones. 

The fear of the Lord is the correction for wis- 
dom; and before honor there must come humility. 

Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but 
from the Lord cometh the expression of the 
tongue. 

Every one of the ways of a man is pure in 
his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits. 

Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy 
plans will be firmly established. 

Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned 
for; and by the fear of the Lord (men) depart 
from evil. 

Better is a little with righteousness, than great 
incomes through injustice. 

There should be a wise sentence on the lips of 



294 Pearls from the Bible. 

the king: his mouth should never commit a, tres- 
pass in judging. 

The fury of a king is like the messengers of 
death ; but a wise man will appease it. 

How much better is it to obtain wisdom than 
gold ! and to obtain understanding is preferable 
to silver! 

Before downfall (goeth) pride, and before 
stumbling, haughtiness of spirit. 

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the 
lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud. 

The wise in heart is called a man of under- 
standing; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth 
information. 

An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on 
his lips there is as it were a scathing fire. 

The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, 
and maketh him go on a way which is not good. 

An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the 
way of righteousness can it be found. 

One that is slow to anger is better than a hero ; 
and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror 
of a city. 

Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet there- 
with, than a house full of the sacrifices of conten- 
tion. 

An intelligent servant will have rule over a son 
that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will 
he have part of the inheritance. 

An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood 
giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction. 

Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his 
Maker : he that is glad at calamities will not re- 
main unpunished. 

The crown of old men are children's children ; 
and the ornament of children are their fathers. 

He that hath a froward heart will not find hap- 



Pearls from the Bible. 295 

piness: and he that hath a perverse tongue will 
tail into evil. 

A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of 
the countenance ; but a depressed spirit drieth up 
the bones. 

A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and 
bitterness to her that hath born him. 

Like deep waters are the words of a (wise) 
man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well- 
spring of wisdom. 

The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and 
they go down indeed into the innermost parts of 
the body. 

He also that showeth himself slothful in his 
work is a brother to the destroyer. 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, 
and they that love it will eat its fruit. 

Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, 
and hath obtained favor from the Lord. 

A man's many companions are hurtful to him; 
but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer 
than a brother. 

Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man: 
and every one is the friend to him that bestoweth 
gifts. 

It is intelligence in man to be slow in his anger, 
and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 

Like the roaring of a young lion is the wrath 
of a king: as dew upon the herbs is his favor. 

A calamity unto his father is a foolish son; and 
a continual dropping are the quarrels of a wife. 

House and wealth are an inheritance from 
fathers; but from the Lord (cometh) an intelli- 
gent wife. 

Slothfulness casteth (man) into a deep sleep; 
and an indolent soul will suffer hunger. 

He that observeth the commandment guardeth 



296 Pearls from the Bible. 

his own soul ; but he that disregard eth (directing) 
his ways (aright) shall die. 

He lendeth unto the Lord that is liberal to the 
poor, and his good deed will he repay unto him. 

Chastise thy son, for there is hope ; and let not 
thy soul spare (him) for his crying. 

Smite a scorner, and the simple will become 
prudent; and if one that hath understanding be 
admonished, he will understand knowledge. 

Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard 
not plough : when he therefore seeketh in the 
harvest time, there will be nothing. 

Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; 
but the man of understanding will draw it out. 

The righteous walketh in his integrity : happy 
will be his children after him. 

Even a child maketh himself known by his do- 
ings, whether his work will be pure, and whether 
it will be upright. 

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty : open 
thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread. 

It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when 
he is gone his way, then doth he boast. 

There is gold, and a multitude of pearls ; but a 
precious vessel are the lips of knowledge. 

Take away his garment, because he hath be- 
come surety for a stranger; and on account of a 
strange woman take a pledge from him. 

Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but 
afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel- 
stones. 

He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth 
secrets: therefore meddle not with him that en- 
ticeth with his lips. 

Whoso curseth his father or his mother — his 
lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness. 



Pearls from the Bible. 297 

An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning 
will at its end not be blessed. 

It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, 
and to make inquiry only after having made 
vows. 

A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, search- 
ing all the inner chambers of the body. 

The ornament of young men is their strength ; 
and the glory of old men is a hoary head. 

To exercise righteousness and justice is more 
acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 

Haughtiness of the eyes, and an immoderate 
heart, are the sinful field of the wicked. The 
plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; but 
every hasty man is destined only to want. 

The getting of treasures by a tongue of false- 
hood is like the fleeting breath of those that seek 
death. 

It is better to dwell in a corner of a roof than 
with a quarrelsome woman in a roomy house. 

The soul of the wicked longeth for evil : his 
neighbor findeth no grace in his eyes. 

Whoso stoppeth his ears against the cry of the 
poor, he also will cry himself, but shall not be 
answered. 

It is joy to the righteous to execute justice; 
but it is a terror to wrong-doers. 

He that loveth pleasure will be a man of want: 
he that loveth wine and oil will not become rich. 

He that pursueth righteousness and kindness 
will find life, righteousness, and honor. 

Whoso gnardeth his mouth and his tongue 
guardeth his soul against distresses. 

The presumptuous and proud, scorner is his 
name, dealeth in the wrath of presumption. 

A lying witness shall perish ; but the man that 
is obedient to the law can speak for ever. 



298 Pearls from the Bible. 

The horse is prepared for the day of battle ; 
but with the Lord is the victory. 

A good name is preferable to abundant riches, 
and good grace, to silver and to gold. 

The reward of humility and the fear of the 
Lord are riches, and honor, and life. 

Thorns and snares are on the way of a per- 
verse man : he that doth guard his soul will keep 
far from them. 

Train up the lad in accordance with his course: 
even when he groweth old, will he not depart 
from it. 

A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the bor- 
rower is servant to the man that lendeth. 

The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in 
the midst of the streets shall I be murdered. 

Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the 
wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge. 

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them 
within thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly 
seated upon thy lips. 

That thy trust may be in the Lord, have I 
made them known to thee this day, yea, even to 
thee. 

Have not I written for thee excellent things in 
counsels and knowledge, 

That I might make thee know rectitude, the 
sayings of truth ; that thou mightest bring back 
answers of truth to those that send thee? 

Rob not the poor because he is poor; neither 
crush the afflicted in the gate ; 

For the Lord will plead their cause, and de- 
spoil the life of those that despoil them. 

Make no friendship with a man given to anger; 
and with a man of fury thou must have no inter- 
course : 



Pearls from the Bible. 299 

Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for 
thy own soul. 

Eat not the bread of a man with an evil eye, 
and do not long for his savory meats ; 

For as though there were a division in his soul, 
so doth he act : Eat and drink, saith he to thee ; 
but his heart is not with thee. 

Apply thy heart unto instruction, and thy ears 
to the sayings of knowledge. 

Let not thy heart be envious against sinners : 
but remain in the fear of the Lord all the time. 

For surely there is a future, and thy hope will 
not be cut off. 

Hear thou, my son, and become wise, and guide 
thy heart on the right way. 

Be not among those that drink wine immoder- 
ately, among those that over-indulge in eating 
flesh ; 

For the drunkard and the glutton will come to 
poverty ; and drowsiness clotheth a man in rags. 

Hearken unto thy father that hath begotten 
thee, and despise not thy mother although she be 
old. 

The father of the righteous will be greatly glad, 
and he that begetteth a wise child will have joy 
through him. 

Let then thy father and thy mother rejoice, and 
let her that hath born thee be glad. 

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath 
quarrels? who hath complaints ? who hath 
wounds without cause ? who hath redness of eyes? 

They that tarry late over the wine ; they that 
come to seek for mixed drink. 

Do not look on the wine when it looketh red, 
when it giveth its color in the cup, when it glid- 
eth down so readily. 



300 Pearls from the Bible. 

At the last it will bite like a serpent, and like a 
basilisk will it sting. 

Thy eyes will see strange forms, and thy heart 
will speak perverse things. 

Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not 
long to be with them. 

For their heart meditateth destruction, and of 
mischief do their lips speak. 

Through wisdom is a house built; and through 
understanding is it firmly established ; 

And through knowledge are chambers filled 
with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth. 

A wise man is always in power; and a man of 
knowledge fortifieth his strength. 

For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy 
war; and there is help in a multitude of counsel- 
lors. 

If thou despond on the day of distress, thy 
strength is small. 

Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither 
be thou envious of the wicked. 

Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a 
proper answer. 

Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in 
the field for thyself: and afterward build thy 
house. 

Be not without cause a witness against thy 
neighbor ; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips? 

Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to 
him : I will recompense every man according to 
his doing. 

By the field of a slothful man I once passed 
along, and by the vineyard of a man void of 
sense : 

And, lo ; it was all grown over with thorns r 
nettles had covered its surface, and its stone walL 
was broken down. 



Pearls from the Bible. 301 

And when I bad indeed beheld this I took it to 
my heart : I saw it, and received a warning. 

"A little more sleep, a little slumber, a little 
folding of the hands in lying down;" 

But then will thy poverty come like a rover; 
and thy wants as a man armed with a shield. 

Like apples of gold among figures of silver is a 
word spoken in a proper manner. 

As an ear ring of gold, and a pendant of fine 
gold, so is a wise reprover toward an ear that 
listeneth. 

Like clouds and wind without rain, so is a man 
that vaunteth falsely of a gift. 

Make thy foot scarce in the house of thy friend: 
lest he have too much of thee, and so hate thee. 

A battle-axe, and a sword, and a sharpened ar- 
row is a man that testifieth as a false witness 
against his neighbor. 

Like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint, is 
confidence in a treacherous man in a time of dis- 
tress. 

(As) he that taketh off his garment on a cold 
day, (as) vinegar is upon natron: so is he that 
singeth songs before an unhappy heart. 

If thy enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; 
and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; 

For though thou gatherest coals of fire upon his 
head, yet will the Lord repay it unto thee. 

To eat too much honey is not good : so is it 
honor to set a limit to men's honor. 

Like a city that is broken in, and is without 
walls: so is the man that hath no control over his 
spirit. 

Make no boast for thyself of the coming day ; 
for thouknowest not what a day may bring forth. 

Let another man praise thee, and not thy own 
mouth ; a stranger, and not thy own lips. 



302 Pearls from the Bible. 

Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelm- 
ing power; but who is able to stand before jeal- 
ousy? 

Better is open reproof than concealed love. 

Faithful are the wounds of a friend ; but de- 
ceptive are the kisses of an enemy. 

Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and 
so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's 
own counsel. 

Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, thou 
must not forsake ; but into thy brother's house en- 
ter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a 
near neighbor than a distant brother. 

(As) the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace 
for gold : so is a man proved according to his 
praise. 

Though thou shouldst pound the fool in a mor- 
tar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: 
still would his folly not depart from him. 

For poverty endureth not for ever, nor doth the 
crown remain for all generations. 

The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats 
are the purchase-price of a field. 

And thou wilt have enough of goat's milk for 
thy food, for the food of thy household, and the 
support for thy maidens. 

Every wicked fleeth when no man pursueth ; 
but the righteous are like the confident young 
lion. 

When there is transgression in a land, it hath 
many for its princes: but under a man of under- 
standing and knowledge its prosperity will long 
continue. 

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, 
than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be 
rich. 

Whoso keepeth the law is an intelligent son ; 



Pearls from the Bible. ^03 

but he that is a companion of gluttons bringeth 
dishonor on his father. 

When the righteous exult, there is great splen- 
dor; but when the wicked rise up, a man hath to 
be sought for. 

Happy is the man that always dread eth (to do 
evil); but he that hardeneth his heart will fall 
into unhappiness. 

He that tilleth his ground will have plenty of 
bread; but he that runneth after idle persons will 
have enough of poverty. 

A faithful man will abound with blessings ; but 
he that maketh haste to be rich will not go un- 
punished. 

When the wicked rise, men conceal themselves: 
but when they perish, the righteous increase. 

A man that, haviDg received many admonitions, 
still hardeneth his neck, will suddenly be broken, 
and this without remedy. 

When the righteous are in authority, the peo- 
ple will rejoice; but when the wicked beareth 
rule, the people groan. 

Scornful men will kindle confusion in a town; 
but the wise turn away wrath. 

The words of Koheleth, the son of David, the 
king in Jerusalem. 

Yanity of vanities, saith Koheleth, vanity of 
vanities: all is vanity. 

What profit hath a man of all his toil which he 
toileth under the sun? 

One generation passeth away, and another gen- 
eration cometh; but the earth endureth forever. 

Going toward the south, and turning round to- 
ward the north, the wind moveth round about 
continually; and around its circles doth the wind 
return again. 



304 Pearls from the Bible. 

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is 
never full : unto the place whither the rivers go, 
thither will they continue to go. 

All things weary themselves constantly ; man 
cannot utter them; the eye is never satisfied with 
seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 

That which hath been, is the same which will 
be; and that which hath been done, is the same 
which will be done; and there is nothing new 
under the sun. 

If there be any thing whereof it is said, " See, 
this is new;" it hath already been in olden times 
which were before us. 

(Only) there is no recollection of former (gen- 
erations); and also of the later ones, that are to 
be — of these (likewise) there will be no recollec- 
tion with those that will be still later. 

I Koheleth was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 

And I directed my heart to inquire and to 
search out by wisdom concerning all that is done 
under the heavens: this is an evil employment 
which God hath given to the sons of man to busy 
themselves therewith. 

I saw all the deeds that are done under the 
sun: and, behold, all is vanity and a torture of 
the spirit. 

What is crooked cannot be made straight ; and 
that which is defective cannot be numbered. 

I spoke with my own heart, saying, "Lo, I have 
truly obtained greater and more wisdom than all 
those who have been before me over Jerusalem:" 
yea, my heart had seen much wisdom and knowl- 
edge. 

And I directed my heart to know wisdom, and 
to know madness and folly; (but) I have per- 
ceived that this also is a torture of the spirit. 

For where there is much wisdom there is much 



Pearls from the Bible. 305 

vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge in- 
creaseth pain. 

Come, then, I said in my heart, I will have a 
taste of joy, and thou shalt see what is good ; but, 
behold, this also was vanity. 

Of laughter I said, It maketh one mad : and of 
joy, What doth this do? 

I resolved in my heart to indulge my body with 
wine, while my heart guideth itself with wisdom; 
and to lay fast hold on folly, till I might see what 
it is that is good for the sons of men, which they 
should do under the heavens during the number 
of the days of their life. 

I made great works: I built myself houses; I 
planted myself vineyards ; 

I made myself gardens and orchards, and I 
planted therein trees of all kinds of fruit ; 

I made myself pools of water, to water there- 
with the forest overgrown with trees; 

I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and 
I had likewise those born in my house; I had also 
great possessions of cattle and flocks above all 
that had been before me in Jerusalem. 

I gathered unto myself also silver and gold, and 
the choice treasures of kings and of the provinces: 
I procured myself male singers and female singers, 
and the delights of the sons of men, wagons and 
chariots. 

So was I great, and obtained more than all that 
had been before me in Jerusalem : also my wisdom 
remained with me. 

And whatsoever my eyes desired I refused them 
not: I withheld not my heart from any joy; for 
my heart was rejoiced with all my toil, and this 
was my portion of all my toil. 

But when I turned myself (to look) on all my 
works that my hands had wrought, and on the toil 



306 Pearls from the Bible. 

that I had toiled to accomiDlish : then, behold, all 
was vanity and a torture of the spirit, and there 
was no profit under the sun. 

And then I turned myself to behold wisdom, 
and madness, and folly; for what can the man do 
that cometh after the king? (only) that which 
others have done already. 

But I saw indeed that wisdom hath the advan- 
tage over folly, as great as the advantage of light 
over darkness. 

The wise man hath his eyes in his head, while 
the fool walketh in darkness; but I myself per- 
ceived then also that one occurrence will befall all 
of them. 

Then said I in my heart, The same that befall- 
eth the fool will also befall even me: and why 
have I then been wiser? Then spoke I in my 
heart, that this is also vanity. 

For there is no recollection of the wise any 
more than of the fool for ever: seeing that which 
hath long ago been will, in the days that are 
coming, all be forgotten. And how doth the wise 
die equally with the fool ! 

Therefore I hated life ; because I felt displeased 
with the work that is wrought under the sun ; for 
all is vanity and a torture of the spirit. 

Yea, I hated also all my toil with which I had 
toiled under the sun ; because I should have to 
leave it unto the man that will be after me. 

And who knoweth, whether he will be a wise 
man or a fool? yet will he have full sway over 
all my toil wherein I have toiled, and wherein 
I have shown myself wise under the sun. Also 
this is vanity. 

Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to 
give up thinking of all the toil wherewith I had 
toiled under the sun. 



Pearls from the Bible. 307 

For there is many a man whose toil is in wis- 
dom, and in knowledge, and with energy : yet to 
a man that hath not toiled therefor must he give 
it as his portion. Also this is vanity and a great 
evil. 

For what doth a man obtain for all his toil, and 
of the torture of his heart, wherewith he toileth 
under the sun ? 

For all his days are full of pains, and vexation 
is mingled with his employment : yea, even in the 
night his heart taketh not rest. Also this is vanity. 

For every thing there is a season • and a proper 
time is for every pursuit under the heavens. 

(There is) a time to be born, and a time to die; 
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what hath 
been planted ; 

A time to kill, and a time to heal ; a time to 
break down, and a time to build up ; 

A time to weep, and a time to laugh ; a time to 
mourn, and a time to dance ; 

A time to throw away stones, and a time to 
gather up stones; a time to embrace, and a time 
to be far from embracing; 

A time to seek, and a time to let things be lost ; 
a time to keep, and a time to throw away ; 

A time to rend, and a time to sew ; a time to 
keep silence, and a time to speak ; 

A time to love, and a time to hate ; a time of 
war, and a time of peace. 

I have seen the employment, which God hath 
given to the sons of men to busy themselves 
therewith. 

Every thing hath he made beautiful in its 
(proper) time : he hath also placed the eternity 
in their heart, without a man's being able to find 
out the work that God hath made from the begin- 
ning to the end. 



308 Pearls from the Bible. 

I know that there is nothing good (inherent) 
in them, but for every one to rejoice, and to do 
what is good during (all) his life. 

For also that every man should eat and drink r 
and enjoy what is good for all his toil, is likewise 
a gift of God. 

I know that whatsoever God doth, that will b& 
for ever ; to it nothing can be added, and from it 
there is nothing to be diminished : and God hath 
so made it, that men should be afraid of him. 

That which hath been hath long since appeared 
(again) ; and what is to be hath already been ; 
and Godseeketh (again) that which is sped away. 

And moreover I have seen under the sun, (that 
in) the place of justice, even there was wicked- 
ness; and (that in) the place of righteousness,, 
even there was wickedness. 

I said in my heart, "God will judge the right- 
eous and the wicked ; for there is a time for every 
pursuit ; and on account of every deed there (will 
he judge)." 

I said in my heart concerning the speaking of 
the sons of men, that God might make it clear to 
them, and that they might see that they by them- 
selves are but beasts. 

For that which befalleth the sons of men be- 
falleth beasts ; even the same thing befalleth them ;. 
as the one dieth, so dieth the other ; yea, they 
have all one kind of spirit : so that the pre-emi- 
nence of man above the beast is nought ; for all 
is vanity. 

The song of songs, which is Solomon's. 

Oh that he might kiss me with the kisses of his 
mouth! for thy caresses are more pleasant than 
wine. 

To the smell are thy fragrant oils pleasant, like 



Pearls from the Bible. 309 

precious oil poured forth is thy name (famous 
.afar): therefore do maiden's love thee. 

Oh draw me! after thee will we run: the king 
hath brought me into his chambers; we will be 
glad and rejoice in thee; we will recall thy cares- 
ses, more pleasant than wine; without deceit (all) 
love thee. — 

Black am I, yet comely, O daughters of Jeru- 
salem! like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains 
-of Solomon. 

Look not so at me, because I am somewhat 
black, because the sun hath looked fiercely at me: 
my mother's children were angry with me; they 
appointed me to be keeper of the vineyards; but 
my vineyard, which is my own, have Iiiot kept. — 

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where 
thou feedest? where lettest thou thy flock rest at 
noon? for why should I appear like a vailed 
mourner by the flocks of thy companions? — 

If thou knowest this not, O thou fairest of 
women ! go but forth in the footsteps of the flock, 
and feed thy kids around the shepherds' dwell- 
ings. — 

Unto the horse in Pharaoh's chariot do I com- 
pare thee, my beloved, 

Comely are thy cheeks between strings (of 
pearls), thy neck with rows (of jewels). 

Chains of gold will we make for thee with studs 
of silver. — 

While the king sitteth at his table, my spike- 
nard sendeth forth its (pleasant) smell. 

A bundle of myrrh is my friend unto me, that 
resteth on my bosom. 

A copher-cluster is my friend unto me in the 
vineyards of 'En-gedi. — 

Lo, thou art beautiful, my beloved ! lo, thou 
art beautiful : thy eyes are those of a dove. — 



310 Pearls from the Bible. 

Lo, thou art beautiful, my friend, also pleasantr 
also our couch is (made in the (green (wood). 

The beams of our house are cedar, and our 
wainscoting of cypress trees. 

I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the val- 
leys.— 

Like the lily among the thorns, so is my be- 
loved among the young maidens. — 

Like the apple tree among the trees of tho 
forest, so is my friend among the young men : 
under his shadow do I ardently wish to sit, and 
his* fruit is sweet to my palate. 

He brought me to the banqueting-house, and 
his banner over me was love. 

Strengthen me with flagons of wine, refresh me 
with apples ; for sick of love am I. 

Oh that his left hand might be under my head, 
and that his right might embrace me! 

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the 
roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken 
not, nor excite my love, till it please (to come of 
itself).— 

The voice of my friend! behold, there he Com- 
eth, leaping over the mountains, skipping over 
the hills. 

My friend is like a roebuck or the fawn of tho 
hinds: behold, there ho standeth behind our wall, 
looking in at the windows, seeing through the 
lattice. 

My friend commenced, and said unto me, "Riso 
thee up, my beloved, my fair one, and come along. 

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and 
gone its way, 

The flowers are seen in the land; the time of 
the (birds') singing is come, and the voice of the 
turtle-dove is heard in our land ; 

The fig tree perfumeth its green figs, and the 



Pearls from the Bible. 311 

vines with young grapes give forth a (pleasant) 
smell. Arise thee, my beloved, my fair one, and 
€ome along. 

O my dove, who art in the clefts of the rock, 
in the recesses of the cliffs, let me see thy counte- 
nance, let me hear thy voice ; for thy voice is 
sweet, and thy countenance is comely." — 

My friend is mine, and I am his — that feedeth 
among the lilies. 

Until the day become cool, and the shadows flee 
away, turn about, my friend, and be thou like the 
roebuck or the fawn of the hinds upon the moun- 
tains of separation. 

On my couch, during the nights, I sought him 
whom my soul loveth : I sought him, but I found 
him not. — 

Behold, thou art beautiful, my beloved I behold, 
thou art beautiful : thy dovelike eyes (look forth) 
from behind thy vail; thy hair is like a flock of 
goats, that come quietly down from mount Gil' ad. 

Thy teeth are like a flock of well-selected 
«heep, which are come up from the washing, all of 
which bear twins, and there is not one among 
them that is deprived of her young. 

Like a thread of scarlet are thy lips, and thy 
mouth is comely : like the half of a pomegranate 
is the upper part of thy cheek behind thy vail. 

Thy neck is like the tower of David built on 
terraces, a thousand shields hang thereon, all the 
quivers of the mighty men. 

Thou art altogether beautiful, my beloved, and 
there is no blemish on thee. — 

How beautiful are thy caresses, my sister, 
(nrv) bride ! how much more pleasant are thy 
caresses than wine ! and the smell of thy fragrant 
oils more than all spices. 

Of sweet honey drop thy lips, O bride ! honey 



312 Pearls from the Bible. 

and milk are under thy tongue ; and the scent of 
thy garments is like the scent of Lebanon. 

Thy sprouts are an orchard of pomegranates, 
with precious fruits, copher and spikenard; 

Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, 
with all the trees of frankincense; myrrh and 
aloes, with all the chief of spices; 

A garden-spring, a well of living waters, and 
flowing down from Lebanon. — 

Return, return, O Shulammith ! return, return, 
that we may look upon thee. "What will ye see 
in the Shulammith?" As though it were the 
dance of a double company. 

How beautiful are thy steps in sandals, O 
prince's daughter ! the roundings of thy thighs 
are like jewelled ornaments, the work of the 
hands of the artificer. 

Thy navel is like a round goblet which lacketh 
not the mixed wine : thy body is like a heap of 
wheat fenced about with lilies. 

Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, and the 
hair of thy head like purple : a king is held 
bound in the tresses. 

How beautiful and how pleasant art thou, O 
love, in thy attractions! 

This thy stature is like a palm tree, and thy 
breasts are like clusters of grapes. 

I thought, I wish to climb up the palm tree, I 
wish to take hold of its boughs ; and, oh, that 
thy breasts might be like clusters of the vine, and 
the smell of thy nose like apples ; 

And thy palate like the best wine, that glideth 
down for my friend gently, exciting the lips of 
those that are asleep. — 

I am my friend's, and toward me is his desire. 

Come, my friend ! let us go forth into the field* 
let us spend the night in the villages ; 



Pearls from the Bible. 313 

Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see 
if the vine have blossomed, whether the young 
grape have opened (to the view), whether the 
pomegranates have budded : there will I give my 
caresses unto thee. 

Oh that some one would make thee as my 
brother that hath sucked my mother's breasts! 
should I then find tbee without, I would kiss thee: 
and yet, people would not despise me. 

I would lead thee, I would bring thee into my 
mother's house, thou shouldst teach me : I would 
cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the sweet 
juice of my pomegranate. 

Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon 
thy arm; for strong as death is love; violent 
like the nether world is jealousy ; its heat is the 
heat of fire, a flame of God. 

Many waters are not able to quench love, nor 
can the rivers flood it away : if a man were to 
give all the wealth of his house for love, men 
would utterly despise him. 

We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: 
what shall we do for our sister on the day when 
she shall be spoken for? 

If she be a wall, we will build upon her a pal- 
ace of silver : and if she be a door, we will en- 
close her with boards of cedar. — 

I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers : 
then was I in his eyes as one that found favor. 

Solomon had a vineyard at Ba'al-hamon ; he 
had given up the vineyard unto the keepers ; 
every one was to bring for its fruit a thousand 
pieces of silver. 

My vineyard, which was mine, was before me : 
thine, O Solomon, be the thousand, and let two 
hundred be for those that keep its fruit. — 



314 Pearls from the Bible. 

" Thou that dwellcst in the gardens, the com- 
panions listen for thy voice: oh let me hear it." 

Flee away, my friend, and be thou like the roe- 
buck, or the fawn of the hinds, upon the moun- 
tains of spices ! 

When King Solomon wrote that love song, all 
was not vanity! He was then young; life was to 
him full of charms ; and what greater charm is 
there in life than the presence of a pure, lovely 
woman ? Such a woman arouses the most chival- 
rous feelings in a man, who, in his desire to please 
that lovable being, would be ready to make sac- 
rifices of his comforts, his wealth, and become her 
servant not only for the moment, but for a life 
time. 

Solomon was the son of a poet, and his feelings 
were poetical when he dwelt on the ennobling 
theme, woman in her loveliness. 

Woman in her purity and love is the chasten 
ing and ministering angel on earth. Without her 
blessed presence man would degenerate into a 
brute. "What are you doing the whole day?" 
asked a mother, a wife who had no children. "I 
am fighting the dust in my home," was the 
prompt answer; "what are you doing the whole 
day?" The mother answered, "I am polishing 
rough diamonds, and it takes all my physical and 
mental strength to do it, for my sons are so wild 
and so rough that I have to steady them and 
polish them." Eightfully that is woman's mis- 
sion, to love and to polish the rough diamonds, 



Pearls from the Bible. 315 

that thoy may shine in the splendor of justice, 
tempered vrith mercy. 

What the sword, the bayonet, and the cannons 
are to the soldiers in battle, the Bible is to woman ; 
it is her strong weapon through which she 
achieves the greatest victory, an everlasting tri- 
umph. It is the Bible that teaches her the ex- 
quisite lesson to place her reliance in God, who 
will strengthen her for the trials of life ; to with- 
stand temptations, to make her and her home holy 
and just, which secures the love and respect of her 
husband, and makes her, as a mother, sacred in 
the eyes of her children. Such a wife and mother 
leads her husband and children, by the silken 
cord of love, to the house of worship ; there, sur- 
rounded by solemnities, to pray in the midst of 
the congregation and hear the text of the Bible 
expounded in a holy spirit, a spirit that strength- 
ens the love between husband and wife, and the 
affections between the parents and their children, 
that make of them a united family, with the con- 
quering spirit "all for one, and one for all." Such 
a family is destined to lead mankind to a higher 
plane of human perfection, nearer to God, for 
they become holier in their feelings and mode of 
living. 

The Temple that Solomon built of such splen- 
dor, and which was the pride of the Israelites and 
the admiration of the world, his own residence of 
incomparable grandeur, his chariots and trap- 



316 Pearls from the Bible. 

pings are mouldering in the dust; but the prov- 
erbs and songs of Solomon still live in the 
bearts and minds of men who think and reason 
for a noble life. It is natural that such proverbs 
as Solomon wrote should live forever, as they are 
as applicable to-day for correct guides in life as 
they were in his time. 

It would be well for our rising generation to 
frequently read the psalms of King David and 
the proverbs of his son Solomon. Those hymns 
and proverbs can not fail to be of profit to them 
in their career. It is beneficial to have music in 
the heart and wisdom of a high order in the 
mind. 

The Bible is the book of books to cheer the 
heart and to enrich the mind, and in order to 
bring the rich literary treasures that the Bible 
contains to the attention of those who do not 
read the Bible, or to those who do not fully com- 
prehend its passages, this book was written ; and 
if only one of every thousand readers will be at- 
tracted, through this book, to read and study the 
Bible, the author will feel amply rewarded for his 
work in bringing into existence 

Pearls from the Bible. 



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